MC and new Illawarra Academy of Sport life member Amy Duggan interviews alumni Emma McKeon, Keira Buckpitt, Ryan Gregson and Kieran Govers. Photo: Region.
Illawarra snowboard superstar Marci Davis-Cook has joined the ranks of the region’s elite sport stars.
Not only has she been named the Illawarra Academy of Sport Athlete of the Year, she was standing on the stage with former winners and Olympians Emma McKeon, Kieran Govers and Ryan Gregson when her name was read out.
Marci told the 300 guests at the IAS annual presentation night on Monday (1 September) that she was humbled to join some of Australia’s greatest-ever sportspeople in winning the DRB Tobin Family Athlete of the Year award.
“They are what young athletes aspire to become and I aim to join them representing Australia at the Olympic level in the not-too-distant future,” she said.
“I can’t promise I can win as many medals as you, Emma, but I’m going to give it a go.
“Thank you to the Tobin family and for sharing Ted Tobin’s legacy tonight, the DRB group for the award sponsorship and, of course, the Illawarra Academy of Sport.
“It might sound cringy, but the Illawarra Academy of Sport is where it all started for me, from the strength and conditioning program to the educational webinars, and I’m grateful to have been a part of it.”
The Tobin award is named in honour of one of the academy’s founding members, Ted Tobin, and recognises the contribution made by the Tobin family over many years to sport in the Illawarra and specifically the IAS.
Ted’s son Ian said his father was committed to ensuring opportunities existed for young athletes across the Illawarra to excel and grow as members of our communities.
“Dad firmly believed that sport had the ability to shape young people in ways that would lay the foundation for success, both in a sporting sense and more importantly on a personal level,” Ian said.
“For the DRB Group Athlete of the Year Award to carry our family name is something we all cherish. It provides us with a level of pride that is difficult to describe.”
The awards night celebrated the achievements of the academy’s young stars across 14 categories.
IAS Athlete of the Year Marci Davis-Cook with Ian Tobin and his daughters Kiara Tobin and Dominique Hogarth. Photo: Jill Bennett Photography.
Marci edged out surfing young gun Lucy Darragh and rising hockey star Justin Murray to claim the award, which recognises an individual who has shown outstanding sporting achievements, personal growth and an unwavering commitment to excellence both on and off the sporting arena.
The 18-year-old also received $10,000 to support her future training and snowboard cross career.
Following her selection in 2024, Marci was again the youngest female selected to represent Australia at the Junior World Championships in snowboard cross, placing 11th in the world.
The TIGS captain, ranked sixth in the world in her age division, has been balancing her HSC studies with training to reach her goal of competing at the 2030 Winter Olympics in
France.
As well as recognising some incredible sporting achievements, the presentation night was a celebration of the academy’s 40 years of operation.
Australia’s greatest Olympian, Emma McKeon told guests that although there were many parts of being an athlete that she missed, retirement was “pretty great”.
“I did it for such a long time and felt like I was ready to just see what else is out there and sleep in and at the moment just enjoy myself,” she said.
Emma, who was the IAS Athlete of the Year in 2010, joined fellow Olympians Kieran Govers (hockey) and Ryan Gregson (athletics) and young surfing champion Keira Buckpitt on stage for a Q&A session with MC Amy Duggan. The ex-Matilda is herself a former AIS athlete and on the night was presented with life membership.
Emma said for her, the academy was the first taste and first step on the journey to becoming an elite athlete.
“I think it really sets the foundation for what’s to come,” she said. ”You get a taste of education opportunities – I did all the nutrition education sessions, psychology, physical training sessions and things like that.
“It’s also a really encouraging thing to be a part of, because you’re around other like-minded people. You’re around people who are wanting to help you on your journey. And for me, it was a really great thing to start me on the journey that I then went on.”
Award winners:
DRB Group Athlete Leadership Award: Zac Richter
BaiMed Commitment to Excellence Award: Rojan Fernandez
Coach of the Year: Ben Bell (triathlon).
Athletes of the Year
Para sports: Jack Gibson
Triathlon: Jake Barritt
Basketball: Riley Saville
BMX: Isaac Baez
Mountain bike: Ethan Aleckson
Road/track cycling: Lucy Allen
Golf: Sage Laird
Hockey: Justin Murray
Netball: Izzy Christian
Netball umpire: Lily Martin
Rugby 7s: Ginger Siasat
Volleyball: Lewis Ebdon.
