Far North Coast swimmer Jacqueline Freney can add another accolade to her eight Paralympic gold medals, being named Australian Paralympian of the Year last night.
It’s been a stellar year for 20-year-old Freney, becoming the most successful athlete ever at a single Paralympics after her successful London campaign.
“All my hard work has finally paid off and to win this award and experience the amazing public support is a wonderful thing.”
She also took out the Female Athlete of the Year at the 2012 Paralympian of the Year Awards in Sydney.
The Team of the Year award was jointly awarded to Central Coast sailor and gold medalist Liesl Tesch and her partner Daniel Fitzgibbon and the wheelchair rugby team which included Port Macquarie’s Ryley Batt.
The youngest members of the Paralympic Team, 13-year-old Newcastle swimmer Maddison Elliott and Rheed McCracken, were jointly awarded Junior Athlete of the Year.
