The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has awarded nine Indigenous Olympians $5000 grants to recognise their efforts in Paris and assist their future performance.
The grant scheme was announced earlier this year, furthering the AOC’s objective to provide practical support to Indigenous Australians.
Advice on the applications was sought from the AOC’s Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC).
The successful applicants are:
- Callum Peters – Boxing
- Mariah Williams – Hockey
- Conor Nicholas - Sailing
- Abbey Connor – Swimming
- Alex (Ally) Wilson – 3x3 Basketball
- Calab Law - Athletics
- Brooke Peris – Hockey
- Taliqua Clancy – Beach Volleyball
- Marissa Williamson Pohlman - Boxing
AOC President Ian Chesterman says the nine athletes across seven different sports are outstanding role models who proudly represented Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“The AOC is committed to creating more opportunities for our First Nation’s athletes to represent us an Olympic Games, particularly as we head to a Home Games in Brisbane 2032,” Mr Chesterman said.
“These athletes in Paris set such an example for young Indigenous boys and girls to follow.
“The grants are a reflection of the commitment that each athlete has made to win selection and compete in Paris and an encouragement for them to continue their Olympic journeys and to inspire others to follow in their footsteps.
“We know that these grants will make that task just that little bit easier. My thanks to the Indigenous Advisory Committee for its guidance and assistance in bringing these inaugural grants to this point,” Mr Chesterman said.
IAC Chair Patrick Johnson says he looks forward to the grants scheme assisting a growing number of Indigenous athletes pursue Olympic sports and reach their full potential.
“Every athletic journey has its challenges and hurdles. The grants will make a real difference and ultimately inspire a new generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes.
“My congratulations to the athletes receiving these first grants and my thanks to the AOC for making this possible.
Indigenous Athletes appointed to AOC Athletes' Commission
Two of the grant recipients, basketballer Alex Wilson and sailor Conor Nicholas, have also been appointed as Indigenous members of the AOC Athletes’ Commission.
The appointment of the Paris Olympians to the two vacancies follows consultation with the IAC and fulfils the AOC’s commitment to a permanent Indigenous Voice on the Athletes’ Commission.
The pair replaces boxer Alex Winwood and beach volleyballer Taliqua Clancy whose terms ended at the Paris Games after serving on the Commission since the Tokyo 2020 Games.
AOC President Ian Chesterman welcomed the appointments as a critical continuation of the AOC’s reconciliation journey.
“Alex and Conor were among the eleven Indigenous athletes who competed in Paris, bringing to 66 the number of known Indigenous Olympians. Their views will be an important addition to the athlete voice.
“That voice and the advice the AOC received from its athlete representatives ensured our Team was provided with all the ingredients it required to achieve the success that was realised in Paris.
“The integration of Indigenous designs in our Team uniform and our Team spaces in the Paris Olympic Village was the source of enormous pride for our athletes. The links between the Athletes’ Commission and the IAC have strengthened since the two positions were created with an AOC constitutional change in 2021.
The constitutional change provides for direct appointments to be made by the AOC Executive if no Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island athletes are voted onto the Commission.
“The AOC is now deep into its second Reconciliation Action Plan which aims to create positive change in Indigenous communities across Australia,” Mr Chesterman said.
IAC Chair Patrick Johnson says he’s delighted Alex and Conor will add their experiences to Commission’s deliberations.
“So many positive initiatives have come into being since the creation of the IAC and the AOC’s determination to make a real difference to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people.
“We have seen the Indigenous Coaching Scholarships go from strength to strength, grants for Indigenous Olympians and core AOC programs such as Olympics Unleashed extend into remote communities. Sport can make a meaning contribution to empowering communities and having a greater impact on Australian sport,” he said.
