20 November 2025

Nick Duigan, Minister for Sport

Seven Tasmanian sporting champions have been announced as finalists for the 2025 Tasmanian Athlete of the Year award.
Stars of swimming, canoeing, eightball, multisport and cycling are vying for the prestigious award, to be presented in December.
Minister for Sport, Nick Duigan, said this year’s winner would join an illustrious list of Tasmanian achievers.
“Running since 1995, the Tasmanian Athlete of the Year award is judged on performance at an international level, plus contribution to the athlete’s sport and the Tasmanian sporting community,” Minister Duigan said.
“Athletes who have taken out this award in previous years include two-time winner rower Darren Balmforth, cyclist Amy Cure, and hockey players Matthew Wells and Eddie Ockenden, as well as the recently retired Ariarne Titmus, who has won four of the last five awards,” Minister Duigan said.
The 2025 finalists are: 
*    Dan Booker (MTB enduro)
*    Kate Eckhardt (canoe/kayak)
*    Nicole Frain (gravel enduro)
*    Max Giuliani (swimming)
*    Alex Hunt (multisport)
*    Fiona Plummer (eightball)
*    Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (road cycling).
“Tasmania has a long history of producing outstanding athletes, and we are proud of this year’s high-calibre finalists,” Minister Duigan said.
The winner will be announced on Thursday, 4 December 2025.
The event will also celebrate Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame members and induct two Tasmanian sporting stars.

Background information on athletes:
Dan Booker (MTB enduro) – Dan had a superb season in the UCI Enduro World Cup, highlighted by victories in Italy and France and an overall fourth-place finish for the series.
Kate Eckhardt (canoe/kayak) – Kate performed consistently in the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup series in which she twice reached finals. Kate capped off her season by becoming the first Australian woman to secure a medal in the K1 at world championships on home territory in Sydney.
Nicole Frain (gravel enduro) – Nicole, a former national road race champion, cemented a successful transition to gravel enduro cycling by finishing the UCI Gravel World Series ranked number 1 with victories in Belgium and Italy.
Max Giuliani (swimming) – Max secured a world championship gold and bronze in the 4x100m and 4x200m relays respectively in Singapore, adding to his two silver medals at the Short-Course World Championships in Budapest in the 200m and 4x200m relay.
Alex Hunt (multisport) – Alex won the World Multisport Championships, which involved 243 kilometres of trail running, kayaking and cycling across New Zealand’s South Island.
Fiona Plummer (eightball) – Fiona was a part of the Australian women’s team which clinched the International Pool Federation World Championship in Ireland, overcoming a highly fancied France side 4-3 in the final.
Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (road cycling) – Felicity’s impressive U23 individual time trial performances saw her selected for the elite mixed relay team time trial at world championships in Rwanda, where she helped Australia defend its title.