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Hewitt, Tour the best in the land

By WARREN PARTLAND
13mar03

SOUTH Australia's champion tennis player Lleyton Hewitt was last night honoured as the nation's leading male sportsman.

Hewitt was named Male Athlete of the Year at the Australian Sport Awards in Melbourne, edging out cricketer Matthew Hayden and swimmer Ian Thorpe.

The triumph denied Thorpe a fourth successive win in the award.

The Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under gave SA a double celebration when judged the winner of the Tourism Award.

The victory is worthy recognition of the impact of the fifth version of the high quality six-day cycling event on the international sports market.

Freestyle skier Alisa Camplin and world squash champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald shared the Female Athlete of the Year crown.

It is only the second time there has been a tie following Jackie Gallagher and Susie O'Neill's joint win in 1996.

Retired tennis star and last year's Australian of the Year Pat Rafter's contribution to sport and the community was rewarded with the prestigious Dawn Fraser Award.

The Australian cricket team won the international team of the year award while Brisbane's successful defence of the AFL premiership gave it the national team title.

Hewitt enjoyed another prolific season, backing up an impressive 2001 when he claimed the No. 1 world ranking – the youngster player to achieve the feat.

The highlight of his year was victory at the Wimbledon. He claimed another four titles in 2002 in a superb performance.

Hewitt was never headed in the world rankings, ending the year as No. 1 with his defence of the Masters Cup.

Fitz-Gerald, recipient of the Dawn Fraser Award last year as well as the female title, continued to dominate women's squash.

The Victorian was unbeaten for the year, captured a record fifth world championship, a third successive British Open and the Commonwealth Games singles gold medal.

Camplin created history as the first Australian women to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics, claiming the aerial title in Salt Lake City.

Her success at the Games was further rewarded with the Victorian Athlete of the Year and national skier of the year awards.

Hewitt Athlete of Year

13mar03

LLEYTON HEWITT upstaged Ian Thorpe but there was no differentiating between aerial skier Alisa Camplin and squash champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald at last night's Australian Sport Awards.

Hewitt, who retained the tennis world No.1 ranking and won Wimbledon, edged out Thorpe for the male athlete of the year.

But judges could not split aerial skier Camplin and squash world champion Fitz-Gerald in the female category.

The awards were announced at a glittering ceremony at Crown casino in Melbourne.

Camplin has had a spectacular year, this month winning the World Cup season title to add to

her Olympic and world championship crowns.

Fitz-Gerald's 2002 triumph in Qatar was her fifth world championship title.

The winner of 61 tour titles announced in February she had withdrawn from the Women's International Squash Players' Association tour and would instead limit herself to minor tournaments and exhibitions.

The tie is only the second time in the awards' 23-year history that the winners could not be separated.

In 1996 swimmer Susie O'Neill and triathlete Jackie Gallagher shared the award.

The Australian cricket team was named the country's best international team after a year of dominance including winning nine of 10 Tests in the calendar year and series victories over Pakistan and South Africa.

AFL yardstick Brisbane was named the best national team after winning back-to-back premierships.

Dual Commonwealth Games track gold medallist Jana Pittman won the young female award, while Todd Reid and Pat Rafter helped tennis complete a trifecta of individual honours.

Reid, the Junior Wimbledon winner, was named best young male athlete and the recently-retired Rafter was presented with the Dawn Fraser Award for outstanding contribution to the community on top of sporting achievements.

AUSTRALIAN SPORT AWARDS:

Male athlete: Lleyton Hewitt; Female athlete: Sarah Fitz-Gerald and Alisa Camplin; International team: Australian cricket team; National team: Brisbane (AFL); Dawn Fraser Award (for outstanding contribution to the community): Pat Rafter; Young male athlete: Todd Reid; Young female athlete: Jana Pittman; Young team: Australian under-19 cricket team; Coach of the year: Shayne Bannan (cycling); Sport Executive: John O'Neill (rugby); Official of the year: Sharon Kelly (netball).


Hewitt takes out award
Thursday 13 March 2003, 6:05 AM

Lleyton Hewitt upstaged Ian Thorpe but there was no differentiating between aerial skier Alisa Camplin and squash champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald at Wednesday night's Australian Sport Awards.

Hewitt, who retained the tennis world No.1 ranking and won Wimbledon, edged out Thorpe for the male athlete of the year.

But judges could not split aerial skier Camplin and squash world champion Fitz-Gerald in the female category.

Camplin has had a spectacular year, this month winning the World Cup title to add to her Olympic and world championship crowns.

Fitz-Gerald's 2002 triumph in Qatar was her fifth world championship title.

The winner of 61 tour titles announced in February she had withdrawn from the Women's International Squash Players' Association tour and would instead limit herself to minor tournaments and exhibitions.

The tie is only the second time in the awards' 23-year history that the winners could not be separated.

In 1996 swimmer Susie O'Neill and triathlete Jackie Gallagher shared the award.

The Australian cricket team was named the country's best international team after a year of dominance including winning nine of 10 Tests in the calendar year and series victories over Pakistan and South Africa.

AFL yardstick Brisbane was named the best national team after winning back-to-back premierships.

Dual Commonwealth Games track gold medallist Jana Pittman won the young female award, while Todd Reid and Pat Rafter helped tennis complete a trifecta of individual honours.

Reid, the Junior Wimbledon winner, was named best young male athlete and the recently-retired Rafter was presented with the Dawn Fraser Award for outstanding contribution to the community on top of sporting achievements.

Rafter was also named the 2002 Australian of the Year.

In a special ceremony, marathon champion Rob De Castella was re-presented with the six awards he won in 1982-86 after his original trophies were destroyed along with his home in the Canberra bushfires.

Australia's young cricketers were judged the best young team after remaining undefeated in the junior World Cup in New Zealand.


Hewitt edges out Thorpe for award

MELBOURNE

LLEYTON HEWITT upstaged Ian Thorpe but there was no separating aerial skier Alisa Camplin and squash champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald at last night's Australian Sport Awards.

Hewitt, who retained the tennis world No. 1 ranking and won Wimbledon, edged out Thorpe for the male athlete of the year.

But Sports Industry Australia judges could not split aerial skier Camplin and squash world champion Fitz-Gerald in the female category.

Camplin has had a spectacular year, winning the World Cup title to add to her Olympic and world championship crowns.

Fitz-Gerald's 2002 triumph in Qatar was her fifth world championship title.

The winner of 61 tour titles announced in February she had withdrawn from the Women's International Squash Players' Association tour and would instead limit herself to minor tournaments and exhibitions.

The tie is only the second time in the 23-year history of the awards that the winners could

not be separated. In 1996, swimmer Susie O'Neill and triathlete Jackie Gallagher shared the award.

The Australian cricket team was named the country's best international team after a year of dominance, including winning nine of 10 Tests in the calendar year and series victories over

Pakistan and South Africa.

AFL leader Brisbane was named the best national team after winning premierships two years in a row.

Dual Commonwealth Games track gold medallist Jana Pittman won the young female award, while Todd Reid and Pat Rafter helped tennis complete a trifecta of individual honours. Reid, the junior Wimbledon winner, was named best young male athlete and the recently retired Rafter

was presented with the Dawn Fraser Award for outstanding contribution to the community on

top of sporting achievements.

In a special ceremony, marathon champion Rob De Castella was presented with the six awards he won in 1982-86 after his original trophies were destroyed along with his house in the Canberra bushfires.

Australia's young cricketers were judged the best young team after remaining undefeated in the junior World Cup in New Zealand.

Australian cycling head coach Shayne Bannan, who oversaw a glittering year on the road and track, was named coach of the year.

There were also awards for netball umpire Sharon Kelly and John O'Neill, the executive responsible for luring this year's rugby union World Cup to Australia.