Snowsill is Queensland Academy of Sport Athlete of the Year: Fraser

November 15 2006

Snowsill is Queensland Academy of Sport Athlete of the Year: Fraser

In a magical year during which she received a medal for every gruelling race she took part in, triathlete Emma Snowsill today celebrated another victory when she received the Queensland Academy of Sport Peter Lacey Award for Sporting Excellence.

Sport Minister Andrew Fraser praised Emma’s outstanding accomplishments when he presented her with the award at today’s annual QAS Champions’ Lunch.

“The Peter Lacey Award is presented annually to the QAS athlete who has achieved the greatest international success during the year while also serving as an ambassador for sport,” Mr Fraser said.

“Emma has won eight out of the eleven international races that she has competed in this year and picked up two silver and one bronze medal in the others.

“She is one of the greatest triathletes in the world and a local sporting hero.

“In addition to her other accomplishments, Emma created history this year by becoming the first triathlete to win three world championship titles - claiming them in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

“She was also the first Australian to win a gold medal in the newly introduced sport of triathlon at the Commonwealth Games.”

In a closely fought contest, Emma took the Award ahead of fellow QAS athletes such as Libby Lenton, Jessicah Schipper, Josh Santacaterina and Duncan Free.

She joins the esteemed company of previous winners Vicki Wilson, Geoff Huegill, Grant Hackett, Susie O’Neill, Kieren Perkins, Kerrie Meares, Geoff Trappett, Jodie Henry and Leisel Jones in winning the award, named in honour of an Australia surf lifesaving icon.

Before he died in 1997, Peter Lacey won 14 World Championship medals and was one of the inaugural Board members of the QAS.

“This Award ensures that Peter’s name and legacy lives on and remains associated with the highest level of sport in Queensland,” Mr Fraser said.

Today’s lunch also included the presentation of the QAS Team of the Year Award which was presented to the men’s hockey team.

The Queensland Blades won the 2006 Australian Hockey League title and also had eight QAS athletes on the Kookaburras which won a silver medal at the World Cup.

Today’s event marked the end of yet another successful year for the QAS with athlete’s breaking 10 world records and returning from world events with more than 120 medals.

Emma Snowsill

Date of Birth: 15 June 1981

HomeTown: Gold Coast

Recent Career Highlights

2006:

• Gold at the ITU World Championships in Switzerland
• Gold at the 2006 MelbourneCommonwealth Games
• Gold at the Los Angeles Triathlon
• Gold at the New York City Triathlon
• Gold at the Life Time Fitness Triathlon (women), USA
• Gold at the BG World Cup Triathlon in Canada
• Gold at the BG World Cup Triathlon in South Africa
• Gold ITU Oceania Cup in Hobart
• Silver at the Beijing BG Triathlon World Cup
• Silver at the Chicago Triathlon
• Bronze Noosa International Triathlon

2005:

• Gold Noosa International Triathlon
• Gold ITU World Championships in Japan
• Gold Greater London Triathlon
• Gold ITU World Cup in Canada
• Gold Lifetime Fitness Triathlon (women)
• Gold ITU World Cup in Honolulu
• Gold National Championships Triathlon in Geelong
• Gold ITU Oceania Cup in Hobart
• Gold Gatorade Series Triathlon in Caloundra
• Silver ITU World Cup in Mooloolaba
• Bronze ITU World Cup in New Zealand

2004:

• Gold Noosa International Triathlon
• Gold Los Angeles Triathlon
• Gold Chicago Triathlon
• Gold Sylvan LakeHalf Ironman Triathlon in Canada

QAS Men’s Hockey Program

QAS Men's Hockey is a medal potential program consisting of Queensland's leading players aged 17 and over.

The goal of the program is to develop athletes for inclusion in Australian under-18, under-21 and open teams. There is a great deal of integration with the AIS Hockey Program to ensure a coordinated approach to the development of players for international competition.

2006 Highlights

• Eight QAS hockey players were on the Kookaburras team that brought home silver from the World Cup held in Germany:
• Stephen Lambert
• Dean Butler
• Mark Knowles (QAS/AIS)
• Rob Hammond (QAS/AIS)
• Liam De Young (QAS/AIS)
• Troy Elder (QAS/AIS)
• Nathan Eglington (QAS/AIS)
• Jamie Dwyer (QAS/AIS)

• Six QAS hockey players were on the Kookaburras team that brought home a silver from the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup:
• Liam De Young (QAS/AIS)
• Troy Elder (QAS/AIS)
• Robert Hammond (QAS/AIS)
• Mark Knowles (QAS/AIS)
• Stephen Lambert
• Dean Butler

• Seven QAS hockey players were on the Kookaburras team that brought home a gold medal from the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games:
• Dean Butler
• Liam De Young (QAS/AIS)
• Jamie Dwyer (QAS/AIS)
• Nathan Eglington (QAS/AIS)
• Robert Hammond (QAS/AIS)
• Mark Knowles (QAS/AIS)
• Stephen Lambert

Media Contact: Chris Taylor 3227 8825 or 0419 710 874