NSW Champions of Sport – Tom Burton OAM

Join us as we celebrate the past winners of the NSW Sports Awards spanning over 20 years of sporting excellence and achievement – as we countdown to the inaugural NSW Champions of Sport, where, for the first time, the induction of new entrants into the NSW Hall of Champions will be combined with the NSW Sports Awards in one gala ceremony. 

In the lead up to the event, we will look back to our past crowned NSW Athlete of the Year and NSW Athlete of the Year with a Disability winners as they share their great joys and triumphs as well as life post their ‘dream year’ with successes both on and off the field.

Sport: Sailing
NSW Athlete of the Year: 2016

On his Olympic debut at Rio in 2016, Tom Burton took the sailing world by storm when he raced to first place in the laser class to be crowned the Olympic champion.

Burton claimed the Olympic gold medal in dramatic fashion. In second place heading in to the final race and 10 points behind Croatia’s Tonci Stipanovic, he needed to beat the Croatian by five places to claim the gold medal. In a race which could not have panned out any better, Burton was able to bravely finish third, and hold Stipanovic to the tail of the field to claim the victory.

Tom was recognised with a medal in the Order of Australia earlier this year in the Australia Day Honours list for his Olympic gold medal win.

Proud of his achievements at Rio in 2016, Burton commented,

“I’d say it would have to be the best year of my career. Some other results stand out similarly fondly but working towards such a goal and needing to perform on the week and it all coming off nicely, nothing really can match that on the same level as the Olympics.”

Before taking gold at Rio, Burton finished second at the 2014 Laser World Championships and went on to win two World Cups in 2015 in Hyeres and Abu Dhabi. He claimed Australia’s one Laser spot for Rio from countryman Matt Wearn after a tough selection battle.

When asked about what the future holds for him Burton felt optimistic about his chances at another Olympics.

“Yes I am continuing sailing. Spending slightly less time in the Laser and trying out some other boats but still campaigning towards Tokyo 2020. I’ve just finished another year in Europe with a second at the Laser World Championships, so not a bad way to start after not spending a huge amount of time in the boat,” said Burton.

The cream of NSW Sports stars from both past and present will be celebrated at the NSW Champions of Sport Ceremony to be held at Rosehill Gardens on Monday 27 November 2017.

For more information on the NSW Champions of Sport Ceremony and to secure your seat visit: www.sportnsw.com.au/2017ChampionsofSport

Cover image credit: Australian Sailing | Beau Outteridge