Paralympian Dylan Littlehales (NSWIS, Avoca Kayak Club) and up and coming canoe sprint paddler Kailey Harlen (NSWIS, Sydney Northern Beaches) are amongst the 26 outstanding young athletes from across Australia who will receive scholarships as part of this year’s Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship & Mentoring Program.
Dylan Littlehales, who finished fourth at last year’s ICF Paracanoe World Championships in the KL3 200 and is the youngest team member of Paddle Australia’s leading paracanoe squad, was honoured to receive a Tier 2 Sport Australia Hall of Fame scholarship.
“It is a tremendous honour for myself to become a part of the SAHOF family and be recognised for my achievement on and off the water. I look forward to taking my performance to the next level with the support of SAHOF,” Littlehales said who is preparing for the Tokyo 2020+1 Paralympic Games.
The SHOF program is supported by Australian Government funding from Sport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and has grown from offering five Scholarships since it began in 2006 to offering a total of 32 funded Scholarships in 2021.
Ten Tier 2 Scholarships have been granted to young athletes from ten different sports, who will each receive a $5,000 sporting grant.
A further 16 young athletes, from seven states and territories, have been granted Tier 3 Scholarships and will each receive a $2,500 sporting grant, including Kailey Harlen, who was on the Junior Team last year and made her first U23 kayak team this year.
“I feel extremely honoured, grateful and excited with this opportunity I have been given. With this Scholarship I will be able to purchase items that will have a great impact on my performance and help me progress into elite levels of my sport. The recognition of SAHOF will allow me to create connections with current and past athletes from various sporting codes which will be an exciting and worthwhile experience.”
Sport Australia Chair John Wylie AM said the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship & Mentoring Program showed the collective power of sport.
“From artistic swimming to modern pentathlon to judo, these scholarships will help more young athletes from across Australia reach the highest level of their sport. This program provides financial support and acknowledges the incredible efforts of our junior athletes, who’ve shown compassion, athletic drive and determination to chase their sporting dreams.”
Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship & Mentoring Program Chair Sue Stanley OAM said she is pleased that the expansion of the Program can provide an additional 26 Australian junior athletes access to financial support.
“We couldn’t be happier to be able to provide this additional support especially during this time of uncertainty. To provide hope and encouragement to such a large group of athletes is a gift that we are exceptionally proud to give.”
Tier 3 Scholarship Holders:
NAME AGE STATE SPORT
Ben Booth 18 QLD Volleyball
Erin Classen 16 WA Squash
Will Cooley 18 TAS Sailing
Katja Dedekind 19 QLD Swimming (Para)
Charlotte Derbyshire 19 QLD Triathlon
Kailey Harlen 19 NSW Canoe/Kayak
Alex Hoberg 19 SA Shooting
Alysha Koloi 19 QLD Diving
Maleah Lang-McMahon16 QLD Equestrian
Jamieson Leeson 17 NSW Boccia (Para)
Darcie Morton 20 VIC Cross Country Skiing
Abigail Paduch 20 NSW Judo
Hattie Shand 20 SA Hockey
Brendon Smith 20 VIC Swimming/Surf Life Saving
Heath Thorpe 20 QLD Gymnastics
Tom Toparis 20 NSW Motorcycling
Scholarships would normally be presented at the annual Sport Australia Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner, however, given current restrictions, the Scholarship Holders and Mentors will be meeting virtually until circumstances change.
Last year, canoe sprint paddler Tom Green (QLD) received a Tier 1 Scholarship and was mentored by Olympic champion Grant Hackett OAM.
Read about this year’s SHOF Tier 1 Scholarship Holders who each receive a $10,000 sporting grant and will be mentored by an Australian sporting icon here.
Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship Holders Profiles:
