The accolades continue to come in for the Australian Sailing Team with AIS scholarship holder Tom Slingsby last night being named NSW Athlete of the Year at the 2010 NSW Sport Federation Annual Sports Award.

Slingsby was named the joint winner of the award alongside surfing world champion Stephanie Gilmour at a gala event at Sydney Olympic Park.

The award capped off an amazing year for Slingsby where he reclaimed the world number one ranking in the Laser class, won the 2010 Laser World Championship and the 2010 Etchells World Championship and was named the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year.

Slingsby and Gilmour were in esteemed company for the award with fellow finalists including swimmer Geoff Huegill, Formula 1 driver Mark Webber, long jumper Fabrice Lapierre, triathlete Chris McCormack and diver Matthew Mitcham.

“Being named the NSW Athlete of the Year alongside Stephanie Gilmour has capped off a great year for me,” Slingsby said.

“It’s a real honour to be recognised alongside athletes from outside the sport of sailing.”

“When you look at the field there were some big names there and it was great to be given the award alongside Stephanie.”

“It’s also good to see that sailing is getting recognition outside of the sport in the wider community.”

Sailing was well represented at the awards with eight nominations in the 18 categories.

2009 49er World Champions Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen were finalists in the Team of the Year category, while Australian Women’s Match Racing Team skipper Nicky Souter was in the Team Athlete of the Year category and crew Olivia Price was nominated in the NSW Young Athlete of the Year category.

Paralympic sailor Ame Barnbrook was a finalist in the NSW Team Athlete with a Disability category while Barnbrook and her Skud 18 crew Lindsay Mason were finalists for the NSW Team with a Disability award.