The annual South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) Awards celebrated its athletes, coaches and staff at the Adelaide Convention Center last Friday. SASI, Australia’s first state sports institute, marked its 40th anniversary at the awards ceremony.
SASI acknowledges athletes and coaches from all programs, like beach volleyball, canoe sprint, and hockey, for their outstanding contributions and achievements over the past 12 months. Three of the eight main event winners come from SASI’s swim program.
Two-time Olympian Kyle Chalmers won Male Athlete of the Year for his impressive performances at the FINA World Championships and Commonwealth Games over the summer. At Worlds, Chalmers earned a gold medal in the mixed 400 free relay that set the world record of 3:19.38, splitting a 46.98 on his leg. He also anchored the men’s 400 free relay to get silver with a 46.60 split.
Chalmers followed up with three golds at the Commonwealth Games in the 100 free (47.51) and the men’s and mixed 400 free relay. In his 100 free prelim swim, Chalmers lowered the Commonwealth Games record to 47.36. Along with a victory in the men’s 400 free relay, the squad took down the Commonwealth Games record with a 3:11.12. Chalmers also picked up a silver in the men’s 400 medley relay that finished in 3:31.88.
Two-time Olympian Madi Wilson was the recipient of the Amy Gillett-Safe Award, the eponymous honor that memorializes SASI’s beloved track cyclist and rower. The award recognizes an athlete’s commitment to sport through passion and persistence. Wilson was a part of the winning mixed 400 free relay at Worlds, splitting a 52.25. Additionally, she grabbed gold in the women’s 400 free relay and two silvers in the women’s 800 free relay and mixed 400 medley relay.
At the Commonwealth Games, Wilson hauled three relay golds and one bronze in the 200 free (1:56.17). Wilson was part of the prelim mixed 400 medley and free relays, with both events won by the Australians at finals.
Earlier this year, Wilson was appointed as a member of the Australian swimming team’s leadership group. She also runs clinics where she coaches junior swimmers. Furthermore, she and Tokyo 2020 Olympian Meg Harris own a clothing brand named ‘Dally and Co.’
Peter Bishop, the head coach of the SASI swimming program, was named Coach of the Year. He coaches Chalmers, Wilson, Harris, and Tokyo 2020 Olympians Matt Temple and Zac Incerti. Bishop has been the head coach at SASI since 2017.
SASI also recognizes Program Athletes of the Year, in which Harris was named the Swimming Athlete of the Year. She won gold in the women’s 400 free relay at the 2022 World Championships, splitting 53.00, and earned bronze in the 50 free, tying with American Erika Brown in 24.38. Harris was also part of the prelim mixed 400 medley and free relays. Moving on to the Commonwealth Games, Harris took home a silver medal in the 50 free, going 24.32.
Other Award Winners
- Female Athlete of the Year – Jess Stenson (Athletics)
- Para Athlete of the Year – Kaitlyn Schurmann (Para-cycling)
- Junior Female Athlete of the Year – Lucy Austin (Netball)
- Junior Male Athlete of the Year – Maxwell Liebeknecht and Dylan Stanton (Cycling)
- Service to Sport Award – Tim Rawlins (Performance Analyst)
