Natalia Drobot awarded Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship

Sport Australia Hall of Fame (SAHOF) today announced 10 more outstanding young athletes selected in its 2022 Scholarship and Mentoring Program.

10 recipients from 10 sports have been selected in SAHOF’s Tier 2 Scholarship Program, including Paddle’s Natalia Drobot.

They will each receive a $5,000 sporting grant plus support and encouragement across the next 14 months from SAHOF and its esteemed member base.

The nation’s leading sports scholarship program, which is supported by Sport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport, awards a total of 32 scholarships each year and provides $150,000 in funding to future stars to support them in their quest for excellence and success on the world stage.

Sport Australia Hall of Fame Chair John Bertrand AO said: “The Scholarship and Mentoring Program is an incredible opportunity for dream builders.

“Those young people who dream of higher, further, faster. Mentoring is a key factor in the development of young athletes.

“These Mentoring roles are not to coach or teach the Scholarship Holder about their sport but rather it is about encouraging a young athlete to take their performances to another level, about facing their fears on the world stage and provided by people who have been there and done it, members of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

“Sport Australia Hall of Fame, with thanks to Sport Australia and the AIS, since 2006, have been able to provide 141 Scholarships with a total of $650k accompanied with 63 of our Members volunteering their time. We are pleased to welcome an additional 32 athletes to our 2022 Program,” he said.

16-year-old kayak paddler Natalia Drobot was the youngest of the 10 athletes selected as recipients of a tier 2 scholarship and grateful for the opportunity that SAHOF has provided her.

“Being a recipient of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship is a humbling and gratifying feeling,” Drobot said.

“It will allow me to excel into the elite level of my sport with the financial assistance and support.

“I am truly honoured to be recognised among other elite athletes representing different sports around Australia.

“Receiving this scholarship will enable me to further develop as an athlete and assist me on my personal journey towards success,” she said.

Paddle Australia CEO Phil Jones congratulated Drobot on her scholarship and was thankful to SAHOF for the support.

“On behalf of the Paddle Australia community we are so pleased that Natalia has been awarded a Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and that she will be recognised alongside some of the most promising young athletes in Australian sport,” Jones said.

“Natalia continues to impress us in her chosen sport of Canoe Sprint, and the SAHOF Scholarship is a testament to the hard work she continues to put in.

“Natalia is one of only six paddling athletes to receive a SAHOF scholarship, a very prestigious award for any young athlete.

“With her own Olympic dreams in mind, Paddle Australia are grateful to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame for supporting Natalia on her journey,” he said.

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