Minister for Sport Mark Arbib today announced the latest five Australian sports stars who have been added to the Australian Institute of Sport’s (AIS) ‘Best of the Best’ Hall of Fame.

Coinciding with the AIS’s 30th anniversary, former and current AIS scholarship holders Ricky Ponting (cricket), Matt Cowdrey (swimming), Jamie Dwyer (hockey), Malcolm Page (sailing) and Anna Meares (cycling) have been added to the elite list.

Senator Arbib praised the accomplishments of the five athletes who will now be officially recognised among the AIS’s finest.

“The AIS has excelled in producing and developing elite athletes throughout its history and Ricky, Matt, Jamie, Malcolm and Anna are truly deserving of this accolade,” Senator Arbib said.

“Their records speak for themselves with the five sharing between them 14 Paralympic gold medals, three Olympic gold medals, three ICC World Cup victories and countless world championships and Commonwealth Games gold medals.

“For the past 30 years the AIS has been at the forefront of sport in both Australia and across the globe.

“The pedigree of the athletes included in the AIS’s ‘Best of the Best’ is outlined by the names already recognised including Glenn McGrath, Louise Sauvage, Lauren Jackson and Robert de Castella.

“The role of the AIS is extremely important in developing high performance sport in Australia and I am sure the addition of these latest five athletes will inspire current and future scholarship holders to strive to join this honour board.”

Senator Arbib also hailed the contribution of the national institute network in developing our elite athletes.

“It is important to recognise the role of the state and territory institutes and academies of sport which have also played a crucial role in supporting not only these amazing athletes, but also thousands more who represent Australia,” Senator Arbib said.

The ‘Best of the Best’ was created in 2002, the year in which the AIS celebrated its 21st birthday, with 21 athletes inducted as part of the inaugural list. A further four were added in 2006 to coincide with the Institute’s 25th anniversary.

The five new inductees will be recognised formally at the 2011 AIS Awards at AIS Arena next Thursday.

The Australian Government commits about $110 million annually towards High Performance sport in Australia, with $43 million contributed towards AIS funding.

The AIS ‘Best of the Best’ Hall of Fame

• Robert de Castella (athletics)
• Vicki Wilson (netball)
• Michelle Martin (squash)
• Luc Longley (basketball)
• Todd Woodbridge (tennis)
• Rechelle Hawkes (hockey)
• Louise Sauvage (Paralympic athletics)
• Clint Robinson (sprint canoe)
• John Eales (rugby)
• Kate Slatter (rowing)
• Mark Viduka (football)
• Glenn McGrath (cricket)
• Shane Kelly (track cycling)
• Michael Milton (Paralympic sport)
• Bridgit Gusterson (water polo)
• Petria Thomas (swimming)
• Neil Fuller (Paralympic athletics)
• Michael Klim (swimming)
• Zali Steggall (skiing)
• Simon Fairweather (archery)
• Alisa Camplin (aerial skiing)
• Kerry Saxby-Junna (athletics)
• Stuart O’Grady (cycling)
• Chantelle Newberry (diving)
• Lauren Jackson (basketball)

New Additions in 2011

• Ricky Ponting (cricket)
• Anna Meares (track cycling)
• Matt Cowdrey (Paralympic swimming)
• Jamie Dwyer (hockey)
• Malcolm Page (sailing)

A video featuring all five new inductees is available on the AIS YouTube channel.

A transcript of the video is also available.