Dual Paralympic silver medallist Kyle Bridgwood has been named USC’s Sportsperson of the Year for the second year in a row.

The para-cyclist and Education student received the award from Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill at the 2016 USC Sports Awards, held at USC’s Innovation Centre auditorium today.

The Buderim resident, 27, made a stunning Paralympic para-cycling debut in Rio de Janeiro in September, earning silver in both the individual pursuit and road time trial. Earlier in the year, he won gold and silver medals at the 2016 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Italy.

Bridgwood, who balances his training and international competition with studying a Bachelor of Primary Education, said he was delighted to have received the top award for the second year running and thanked USC staff and his coach for their support.

“I feel really honoured to be given this award,” he said. “This year has been a pretty good one for me, and I couldn’t have done it without a lot of help.”

The USC Sports Awards ceremony featured an address from Sunshine Coast Lightning CEO Danielle Smith and included a special tribute to the 12 USC-based athletes who competed at this year’s Rio Olympics and Paralympics.

USC’s Team of the Year award went to the women’s volleyball team, which won gold at the Australian University Games in Perth recently after remaining undefeated through eight pool matches and the finals.

Seven students – Bridgwood, taekwondo athlete Cameron Taylor, surf life saver Chelsea Gillett, and Rio swimmers Jake Packard (Olympics), Blake Cochrane, Michael Anderson and Jacob Templeton (Paralympics) – were honoured with Continued Excellence Awards.
 
Full Blue awards for ongoing outstanding achievement went to duathlon competitor Annelise Jefferies, sailor Klade Hauschildt, swimmers Taylor McKeown, Leah Neale and Braedan Jason, open water swimmer Chelsea Gubecka, and volleyballer Angela Johnson.

Half Blue awards for sporting excellence went to waterskier Jessica Schmidt, surfer Sophie McCulloch, rugby sevens player Emma Sykes, archer Chloe Grabs and volleyballers Chloe Wolski, Cecilia Webbe and Maike Bertram.

Yoel Jogiono received his third USC Green Award – presented for excellence in volunteering or managing sport – for his efforts in coaching and managing the University’s futsal teams.

— Gen Kennedy