Crystal Globe champions Scotty James and Laura Peel named joint Olympic Athletes of the Year in Snow Australia Awards

Published Fri 15 May 2020

Crystal Globes winners, snowboarder Scotty James and aerial skier Laura Peel, were today named the joint winners of the Olympic Athlete of the Year title for the 2020 Snow Australia Awards.

 
#SnowAustAwards | Athlete of the Year (Olympic Disciplines) Winner

#SnowAustAwards | 4 finalists, 1 award. Who will take home the prestigious 2020 Athlete of the Year Olympic Disciplines? Find out today at 12pm.

Posted by Snow Australia on Thursday, May 14, 2020

After an outstanding Northern winter that saw them both finish the season ranked number one in the World, the pair once again have been named joint winners of the award, previously sharing the title in 2015.

Triple Olympian James now becomes the first person in history of the Snow Australia Awards to win the Athlete of the Year Award four times.

It was an extraordinary season for both athletes, with dual Olympian Peel claiming her career first Crystal Globe, and James becoming the overall season champion for the third time.

Peel finished the season with two gold, one silver and one bronze medal, in her first year jumping triple back somersaults.

The 30-year-old Canberra local said that this season far exceeded the expectations she had set for herself before it commenced.

“It was a great season - was pretty magic for me,” Peel said.

“I went in doing triples and completing triples for the first time - so the goal wasn’t to win the Crystal Globe, it was to gain some experience doing triples.

“But that (winning the Crystal Globe) has been a dream of mine pretty much since I started the sport so this was a really amazing season,” she said.

James successfully defended his X-Games titles and won the Dew Tour event in Copper Mountain. He qualified first in every World Cup event, before going on to finish the season with three golds and one silver World Cup medals.

James echoed Peel’s sentiments, adding that he feels extremely honoured to be named Athlete of the Year amongst some great talent in his fellow finalists.

“It’s getting harder every year to win this award, so each year brings a different excitement,” James said.

“I’m very happy to be the winner of this award, alongside Laura again. She’s been amazing and I’ve been watching from afar. As winter athletes we don’t get to be together that often so it’s been good to watch and support each other from afar.”

Snow Australia Chief Executive Officer Michael Kennedy said he couldn’t think of two more deserving winners for the title of Athlete of the Year (Olympic Disciplines) than Scotty and Laura.

“Scotty and Laura had fantastic seasons. They are both pushing themselves and their sport to the next level,” Kennedy said.

“Scotty’s consistent results made him unstoppable this season and it’s great to see him once again be crowned our Athlete of the Year,” he said.

“As for Laura, she now joins Aerials royalty in becoming World Cup Champion joining the greats of our sport in Kirstie Marshall, Jacqui Cooper, Alisa Camplin and Lydia Lassila in that honour.

The Athlete of the Year award caps off what has been a fantastic celebration of Australia’s snowsports athletes as part of the 2020 Snow Australia Awards online.

 

All Winners, Finalists and Nominees

Athlete of the Year

Scotty James
Laura Peel

Finalists
Belle Brockhoff
Jakara Anthony

Nominees and Discipline Athletes of the Year
Madi Hoffman (Alpine)
Jessica Yeaton (Cross Country)
Sami Kennedy-Sim (Ski Cross)
Tess Coady (Slopestyle)

Athlete of the Year (Paralympic Disciplines)

Ben Tudhope

Finalist
Patrick Jensen & guide Amelia Hodgson

Outstanding Achievement

Belle Brockhoff

Honourable Mention
Jessica Yeaton

Junior Athlete of the Year

Josie Baff

Nominees and Discpline Junior Athletes of the Year
Madi Hoffman (Alpine)
Robbie Morrison (Ski Cross)
Bentley Walker-Broose (Cross Country)
Abi Harrigan (Ski Slopestyle/Big Air)
Meila Stalker (Snowboard Slopestyle/Big Air)

Coach of the Year

Harald Benselin & Jan Klemsa

Watch interviews with all the winners and finalists here