Parker's Paralympic Gold Leads Aussie Triathlon's Night of Nights
Lauren Parker's Paralympic triumph and Matt Hauser's breakthrough season highlight a stellar year for Australian triathlon at the 2024 AusTriathlon Awards.
Paralympic champion Lauren Parker headlined the celebration at the 2024 AusTriathlon Awards, capping off her remarkable year with a fifth consecutive Female Para Triathlon Performance award. The recognition follows her historic gold medal at the Paris Paralympics and adds to an impressive collection of honours including AIS Performance of the Year and Paralympics Australia's Athlete of the Year.
"This award means so much because it really shows the recognition of my results and performances this year," Parker said. "It's been such a hard three years since Tokyo, to then get to Paris and come away with a para triathlon gold medal, and then to receive this award just means the world."
Shawn Smith
The awards ceremony, held at the QT Gold Coast, also witnessed a historic moment as Pete Jacobs and Katie Kelly OAM were inducted into the AusTriathlon Hall of Fame. The pair became the 19th and 20th inductees, with Jacobs honoured for his legendary 2012 Kona victory - the last time an Australian claimed the Ironman World Championship title - and Kelly recognised for her groundbreaking Paralympic gold in Rio 2016, where she secured Australia's first-ever Paralympic medal in the sport.
Matt Hauser proved why he's one of Australia's most respected athletes, claiming both Male Performance of the Year and the Athlete's Athlete award. His season highlights included victory at the World Triathlon Championship Series Hamburg, silver in Yokohama, and Australia's best male Olympic triathlon result in 20 years with seventh place in Paris.
Ashleigh Gentle continued her dominance, securing a record-breaking fifth Female Performance of the Year title. Her victories at the T100 Triathlon World Tour events in Singapore and London propelled her to World Championship silver, cementing her status as one of Australia's most successful triathletes.
The future of Australian para triathlon looks bright with 17-year-old Grace Brimelow making history as just the second para athlete to receive the Chris Hewitt Emerging Athlete Award. Brimelow, who became Australia's youngest Paralympic triathlete in Paris, backed up her selection with gold at the World Triathlon Para Series in Devonport.
Paralympic debutant Jack Howell's breakthrough season earned him Male Para Triathlon Performance of the Year, highlighted by his win at Devonport and silver at the World Championships in Torremolinos.
"Tonight is more than a celebration," AusTriathlon CEO Tim Harradine noted during the ceremony. "It's a reflection of what makes triathlon extraordinary: striving for more, the courage to embrace challenges, and inspiring others. Each of you in this room—athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, and staff—has played a vital role in shaping what triathlon means in Australia."
Gold Coast triathlon legend Jenny Alcorn's three-decade contribution to the sport was recognised with the President's Special Recognition Award. Her honour highlighted not just her achievements as an athlete and coach, but her inspiring resilience while battling a rare brain tumour.
The evening's celebrations also included recognition of the sport's foundational figures, with Gayelene Clews, Marion Hermitage, and Richard Burnell receiving Legend of the Sport Awards for their lasting impact on Australian triathlon.
2024 AusTriathlon Award Recipients
Hall of Fame Inductee - Pete Jacobs
Hall of Fame Inductee - Katie Kelly OAM
President’s Special Recognition Award - Jenny Alcorn
Legend of the Sport Award - Gayelene Clews
Legend of the Sport Award - Marion Hermitage
Legend of the Sport Award - Richard Burnell
Service to the Sport Award - David Budge
Service to the Sport Award - Mark Pringle
Service to the Sport Award - Royce Fairbrother
Athlete’s Athlete of the Year - Matt Hauser
Male Performance of the Year - Matt Hauser
Female Performance of the Year - Ashleigh Gentle
Female Para Triathlon Performance of the Year - Lauren Parker
Male Para Triathlon Performance of the Year - Jack Howell
Chris Hewitt Emerging Athlete Award - Grace Brimelow
John Ison Award - David Williams & Michael Thompson
Rob George Award - Christina Thorne & David Schutz
High Performance Coach Award - Dan Atkins
Pathways Coach of the Year - Peter McKenna
Age Group Coach of the Year - Nicole Ward
