Alicia Coutts Wins Australian Swimmer of the Year Honors

MELBOURNE, Australia, November 22. FIVE-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Alicia Coutts has capped off a remarkable year by winning the 2010 Telstra Swimmer of the Year Award, while Geoff Huegill's swimming renaissance was solidified winning three major awards at Swimming Australia's night of nights in Melbourne.

The 22-year-old Coutts, who won gold in the 200m IM, 100m butterfly, 100m freestyle and 4x100m medley and freestyle relays at the Commonwealth Games, was a clear winner of the major award based on her outstanding individual performances in Delhi last month.

An Olympic finalist in the 200m IM in Beijing, Coutts missed out on selection on the Australian team last year due to illness, and her outstanding performances in 2010 showed that hard work, determination and talent are all that is needed to re-group from such a set-back.

A key contributor to Australia's 22 gold medals and 54 overall in Delhi, Coutts will continue to train at the AIS under her coach John Fowlie, who was named Coach of the Year, in the lead up to next year's World Championships in Shanghai and ultimately success in London 2012.

For Huegill, who won the Swimmers' Swimmer award, Speedo Golden Moment and Telstra People's Choice award voted for by more than 8,000 fans, the accolades highlighted a remarkable return to the pool which over the last 18 months has seen the 31-year-old achieve his goal of representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and winning gold in the process.

His gold medal in the 100m butterfly in Delhi, in a career best time, had to compete with other highlights such as Leisel Jones' 10th Commonwealth Games gold medal overall, Meagen Nay's 200m backstroke gold and Matthew Cowdrey's world record in the 50m freestyle.

In other awards presented on the night World Championship bronze medallist Melissa Gorman was named the Open Water Swimmer of the Year, six-time IPC gold medallist Peter Leek the Multi Class Swimmer of the Year, and Leisel Jones the Short Course Swimmer of the Year.

The award for the Discovery of the Year went to Gold Coast teenager Katie Goldman for her performance in winning silver and bronze at the Pan Pacific Championships in the 400 and 800m freestyle, while Blair Evans won the Australian Unity Club Leadership Award.

The 2010 Telstra Swimmer of the Year Awards were held at the Melbourne Convention Centre with more than 550 people in attendance.
2010 Telstra Swimmer of the Year Award Winners

Telstra Swimmer of the Year Award – Alicia Coutts
Telstra People's Choice Award – Geoff Huegill
Telstra Swimmers' Swimmer Award – Geoff Huegill
Telstra Multi Class Swimmer of the Year – Peter Leek
Telstra Open Water Swimmer of the Year – Melissa Gorman
Speedo Golden Moment – Geoff Huegill
Telstra Coach of the Year – John Fowlie
Singapore Airlines Short Course Swimmer of the Year – Leisel Jones
Australian Sports Commission Discovery of the Year – Katie Goldman
Swimming Australia Media Award – Gerry Collins, ABC Grandstand
Telstra Multi Class Coach of the Year – Graeme Carroll
Open Water Coach of the Year – Ken Wood
The Age Group Coach of the Year – Michael Palfrey
The Australian Unity Club Leadership Award – Blair Evans
Australian Unity Club of the Year – Sydney University
Roger Smith Technical Official of the Year – Ryan Arblaster and David Gregory

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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