Six of Australia’s greatest sporting heroes to mentor the next generation of stars

05 October 2021

The Sport Australia Hall of Fame (SAHOF) has announced its Scholarship and Mentoring Program for 2022 which will see five Olympic champions and one of rugby’s greatest ever players mentor Australia’s next generation of stars.

Sport Australia Hall of Fame mentors, rear, from left: John Eales, Matthew Mitcham, Stephanie Rice, Steve Hooker, Dawn Fraser and Malcolm Page; and 2022 Tier 1 scholarship holders, front, Cooper Woods, Alessia McCaig, Bendere Oboya, Zac Littlewood, Jess Rice-Ward and Mikayo Mundy. Artwork courtesy Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

The program, opens in a new tab, which began in 2006 and is supported by Sport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), awards 32 scholarships and $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 Members, three-time Olympic champion Dawn Fraser AC MBE, dual Olympic sailing champion Malcolm Page OAM, three-time Olympic swimming champion Stephanie Rice OAM, Olympic diving gold medallist Matthew Mitcham OAM, Olympic pole vault gold medallist Steve Hooker OAM, and Wallaby legend John Eales AM will mentor Tier 1 scholarship holders Zac Littlewood (WA, 20, sailing), Alessia McCaig (VIC, 18, cycling), Mikayo Mundy (QLD, 17, wakeboarding), Bendere Oboya (VIC, 21, athletics), Jess Rice-Ward (NSW, 19, equestrian) and Cooper Woods (NSW, 21, skiing).

Minister for Sport, Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck saidthe Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program is a fantastic example of how our sporting heroes can inspire future champions.

“The 2022 mentors include a triple Olympic gold medallist and five-time world record holder in swimming, a dual Olympic champion and seven-time world champion in sailing and a Wallaby Hall of Fame Inductee,” Minister Colbeck said.

“Their active sporting careers may be over but their active contribution continues through the support and advice they will provide to these young athletes which will be life changing.

“The Australian Government is delighted to support this program and I wish all scholarship recipients the very best for their sporting careers and thank the mentors for their leadership on this program.”

Sport Australia Chair Josephine Sukkar AM said the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program showed the power of sport to unite, inspire and build stronger communities.

“I’m delighted to see the program offer so many scholarships, providing opportunities for even more young athletes from across Australia to further their careers.”

“The opportunity for scholarship recipients to be paired with mentors like these is priceless, and will help these young athletes reach their potential in not only their chosen sport, but life more broadly.

“To be mentored by some of Australian sport’s most iconic names such as swimming legend Dawn Fraser AC MBE, Olympic gold medallists Steve Hooker OAM and Matthew Mitcham OAM will have an immeasurable impact on the next generation, particularly as we look ahead to a home Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane in 2032.”

For more information on Tier 1 athletes and their mentors, please visit the Sport Australia Hall of Fame website., opens in a new tab

Tier 2 and Tier 3 Scholarship Holders will be announced in the coming weeks with scholarships recipients receiving a $5,000 or $2,500 sporting expenses grant, SAHOF encouragement and support.