04 Feb 2009

The Australian/AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) Sailing Team has won Program of the Year for the second time in a row at the Australian Sports Commission’s 2008 AIS Awards.

The Australian/AIS Sailing program, based in Sydney, enjoyed excellent domestic and international seasons last year, culminating in AIS sailors winning two gold medals and a silver at the Beijing Olympics Games.

‘It’s a pretty humbling achievement to win this when you see the standard of the teams who we were nominated against,’ said Michael Jones, 2008 Beijing Olympic Program Director.

‘Our relationship with the AIS over the last three years has gone from marginally dysfunctional to outstanding and the support and the impact that the AIS has had on the program in sailing is marked.

‘It is a significant contributor to the success that sailing has achieved in the last three years.’

The strength of the sailing program is also reflected in AIS sailors taking out both Team of the Year and Coach of the Year awards at this evening’s ceremony.

Director of the AIS Professor Peter Fricker paid tribute to the hard work that had led to the Australian/AIS Sailing program’s second consecutive award.

‘The tremendous results in sailing reflect the professionalism of this program.

‘This applies across the program from athletes and coaches to the dedicated administrative staff and providers.’

Professor Fricker also congratulated AIS Sailing’s Head Coach Victor Kovalenko, who won the 2008 Coach of the Year award.

‘Victor has been the backbone for much of the program’s success and has been integral to the development of Australia’s finest sailors.’

Sailing partners Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson, and Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page, were named joint AIS Team of the Year winners.

‘It’s been a great year for the Australian/AIS Sailing program and one everyone involved should be very proud of,’ said Professor Fricker.

The major winners at the 2008 AIS Awards were:

• AIS Athlete of the Year: Heath Francis (Track and Field) and Ken Wallace (Flatwater Canoe)
• AIS Junior Athlete of the Year: Evan O’Hanlon (Track and Field)
• AIS Coach of the Year: Victor Kovalenko (Sailing)
• AIS Program of the Year: Australian/AIS Sailing.