NSWIS adds six new Winter Sports scholarship holders

The New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) have added six new 2020-2021 scholarship holders to the Winter Sports Program.  

The program is delivered by NSWIS in partnerships with Snow Australia and the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA) to support winter sport athletes showing potential for medal outcomes at the 2022 and 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

Recipients of NSWIS scholarships have access to worlds best coaching, training facilities and Performance Team services which are crucial in the athletes' quest for success at international level.

Congratulations to Sophie Ash, George Murphy, Mia Clift, Josh Hanlon, Rae Anderson and Madi Hoffman.

Mogul skier Sophie Ash, who has already claimed four top-15 World Cup results during her young career, is a returning scholarship holder.

Mogul skier George Murphy, Snowboard Cross athlete Mia Clift and Para-alpine skiers Josh Hanlon and Rae Anderson have all been awarded new scholarships.

The group is rounded out with Madi Hoffman, an Alpine racing Slalom and Giant Slalom specialist who has been on the National Alpine Ski Team for four years and was Alpine nominee for the Snow Australia 'Athlete of the Year' title.

NSWIS Winter Sports program Coordinator Peter Topalovic said he is very excited to welcome the new recruits into the NSWIS Winter Sports program.

"Our mission is to identify and support promising young Australian athletes as they chase medals on the national and international stage, so it's always very exciting when we get to announce new scholarship holders for our Winter Sports program.

"With Madi, it's absolutely tremendous to see another Alpine athlete joining the program. It shows the work we're doing with Snow Australia and our partners to support the snow sports pathway is producing results, allowing us to develop present and future talents across all disciplines.”

A total of 49 athletes have been selected for NSWIS scholarships in the 2020/21 scholarship intake. The program also supports some of the world's best Olympic and Paralympic athletes, such as Olympic medalists Matthew Graham and Jarryd Hughes, the first two NSWIS snow sports athletes to progress through the NSWIS development pathway to claim an Olympic medal.

"Having the opportunity to support the growth of these bright Australian talents and providing them with access to worlds best training facilities and services is crucial to ensure Australia stays competitive in high performance winter sports," Topalovic said.