Titmus crowned Tasmanian Athlete of Year for 2024

Multiple Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus has become the first person to be crowned Tasmanian Athlete of the Year four times.

On a huge day of Tasmanian sporting celebrations, cyclist Amy Cure and sailor Matt Bugg also become the 143rd and 144th inductees into the Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame.

Minister for Sports and Events, Nick Duigan, said both are former world champions in their field and previous athlete of the year winners.

“Cure claimed the title for cycling in 2009 and 2015, and Bugg for sailing in 2016,” Minister Duigan said.

“Burnie-born Cure, is a three-time world champion, four-time junior world champion, two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and dual Olympian, who retired from international cycling in 2020.

“Hailing from Hobart’s Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, Bugg hit his peak between 2015 and 2018 when he finished on the podium in all five major benchmark events. He established a stunning record of 13 open Australian 2.4 national championships and was ranked in the top three in the world for a large portion of his career.”

Liberal member for Bass, Rob Fairs presented the Tasmanian Athlete of the Year award to the 24-year-old Launceston-born swimmer, Titmus.

“The recognition comes four months after the Launceston-born freestyle specialist, who moved to Queensland in 2015, won two gold and two silver medals at the Paris Olympics - adding to her haul of two golds, one silver and one bronze from the Tokyo Games,” Mr Fairs said.

“Titmus made history in the French capital by becoming the first female Australian to defend an Olympic 400m title while also helping set an Olympic record in the 4x200m relay. The stats are amazing.”

The former Riverside and Launceston Aquatic Club member was named athlete of the year from a shortlist which included fellow Paris Olympians Eddie Ockenden, Max Giuliani, Alanna Smith and Sarah Hawe.

Earlier on Thursday, Bugg was inducted into the Tasmanian Institute of Sport Champions Club, along with lawn bowler Rebecca Van Asch and rower Ciona Wilson.

“These achievements are a fantastic representation of the quality athletes our state can produce,” Minister Duigan said.

“That’s why our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future is all about giving Tasmanians access to the sporting facilities they need to succeed.”