ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 2026 - OPEN
This annual award recognises the outstanding sporting achievement by a Sunshine Coast open athlete aged 18-35. Nominations are encouraged from all athletes in all sports recognised by Sport Australia. Athletes can self-nominate or be nominated by another person (e.g., coach, team manager, friend, relative).
Who can be nominated
To be eligible for an Athlete of the Year Awards, nominees must be:
- A permanent resident, both during and outside of competition periods, of the Sunshine Coast or Noosa local government areas; or
- Represent or be a life member of a sporting club/ association or participate in a recognised high performance pathway that's aligned to a sports governing body and is based on the Sunshine Coast or Noosa local government areas; or
- Have lived/ trained/ competed as a Junior in the Sunshine Coast or Noosa local government areas and moved away to attend tertiary education, to participate in a recognised high performance pathway aligned to a sport governing body or compete in elite level competition.
- Satisfy one of the above criteria for at least 75% of the time leading up to the sporting achievement assessed as part of the Annual Award years they have nominated.
What you will be asked
In this order. Answers save as you go, so you can come back to them.
- Sporting achievements during the Annual Awards period (300 words max)
- Demonstrated commitment and leadership as an athlete during the Annual Awards period (300 words max)
- Highest level the nominee competed at during the awards period
- Name of the event
KEY DATES
Awards period: 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026
Nominations close: 30 October 2026
Awards night: 5pm, Thursday 3 December 2026, UniSC Innovation Centre Auditorium