Cooper Woods awarded tier-1 Sport Australia Hall of Fame scholarship

Mogul skier Cooper Woods-Topalovic was announced today as one of the six young athletes recognised with a tier-1 scholarship by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame (SAHOF).

The SAHOF Scholarship and Mentoring Program is the nation’s leading sports scholarship program and is supported by Sport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport. It awards 32 scholarships and $150,000 in funding to future stars to support them in their quest for excellence and success on the world stage.

Through the program, Woods will be provided with mentoring access and support from one of Australia’s most successful sporting greats, Wallaby legend John Eales AM, who will volunteer his time over the next 14 months alongside other Australian sporting heroes including sailing champion Malcolm Page OAM, three-time Olympic swimming champion Stephanie Rice OAM, Olympic diving gold medallist Matthew Mitcham OAM and Olympic pole vault gold medallist Steve Hooker OAM.

Snow Australia CEO Michael Kennedy said he was thrilled to see Woods recognised as one of the elite young athletes receiving the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship again in 2022. 

“Cooper is a rising star in moguls, showing promise in the World Cup season earlier this year. With the 2022 Winter Olympic Games on the horizon, Cooper is in the frame for Team selection.

“To see his hard work and commitment acknowledged with a Tier 1 Scholarship for the coming 12 months is outstanding. I look forward to seeing what Cooper, and his Mentor, the legendary John Eales, can achieve, and are excited for what lies ahead in his career.

Snow Australia are grateful to the SAHOF for giving Cooper another amazing opportunity, as he continues to pursue his Olympic dreams,” he said.

The 21-year-old mogul skier, who finished the 2020-21 FIS World Cup season ranked 17th in the world, was already a tier-2 SAHOF Scholarship recipient for 2021, with the grant offering funds to cover sporting expenses. Woods said it is now an honour and a privilege to have the opportunity of building a one-on-one relationship with John Eales.

“To have mentorship from someone who is heavily respected both in and outside of sport and to be able to talk about moments and opportunities to better yourself as an athlete and person would be game-changing for me,” Woods said.
John Eales commented that he believes rugby union and skiing have more in common than what people might think.

“To do well in either sport you have to win a battle of the mind as much as you do a physical contest, whether that physical contest be up against the mountain or up against the All Black pack,” he said.

Sport Australia Chair, Josephine Sukkar AM said she was delighted to see the program offer so many scholarships, providing opportunities for even more young athletes from across Australia to further their careers.

“The opportunity for scholarship recipients to be paired with mentors like these is priceless, and will help these young athletes reach their potential in not only their chosen sport, but life more broadly,” she said.

Since the program’s inception in 2006, SAHOF has supported 141 athletes through the unique Scholarship and Mentoring Program, including para-snowboard World Cup Winner Ben Tudhope and snowboard cross Olympic Youth Gold medalist Josie Baff, who was a tier 1 SAHOF Scholarship holder in 2021, mentored by swimming legend Susie O'Neill.

Tier 2 and Tier 3 Scholarship Holders will be announced in the coming weeks. Tier 2 scholarships provide 10 athletes with a $5,000 sporting expenses grant each, SAHOF encouragement and support. Tier 3 provides 16 athletes with $2,500 sporting grants each, SAHOF encouragement and support.