Legend Elevated and Champions Honoured

Ian Thorpe, Australia’s greatest ever Olympian became the 21st NSW Hall of Champions Inductee to be elevated to Legend status at the inaugural NSW Champions of Sport Ceremony that was held at Rosehill Gardens on Monday 27 November 2017.

Thorpe joins a distinguished list of Legends of NSW sport including Dawn Fraser, Donald Bradman, Betty Cuthbert, Ken Rosewall and Louise Sauvage.
An interview with MC, ABC journalist Tracey Holmes, covered a range of topics reflecting on Ian’s idols in the sport such as Alexander Popov, his greatest achievements, the pressure of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, rivalries with Grant Hackett and Pieter van den Hoogenband and his passions post swimming.

Ian Thorpe OAM interview with Tracey Holmes

Earlier in the night another five champions were inducted into the NSW Hall of Champions for outstanding achievements in their respective sporting careers including Warren Birmingham (hockey), Matthew Nielsen (basketball), Rochelle Gilmore (cycling), Matthew Mitcham (diving) and Michael Clarke (cricket).

NSW Hall of Champion Inductees (L-R): Matthew Nielsen, Warren Birmingham, Matthew Mitcham and Rochelle Gilmore.

The night also saw the launch of a brand new award for outstanding contribution to NSW sport both on and off the playing field, to simply be known as The Waratah. Conceived by the NSW Office of Sport, the Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres proudly announced that the inaugural recipient of The Waratah was Laurie Daley. With Laurie unable to attend the event the award was accepted on his behalf by NSW Rugby League CEO Dave Trodden.