Athletes of the Year

Sydney Swans premiership-winning defender Nick Smith and Paralympian Alexandra Green have been named Athletes of the Year at the annual UNSW Blues and Sports Awards Night.

The 25-year-old Green, a student in the Faculty of Engineering, won Female Athlete of the Year for her gold at the world championships and bronze medal at the London Paralympics. She pipped seven other nominees including Australian cricketer Alex Blackwell and NSW hockey champion Claire McGarrity.

Smith, 24, who studies Economics at the Australian School of Business, was named Male Athlete of the year, over a strong line-up including two Olympians – Australian water polo champion Johnno Cotterill and sailor Colin Cheng.

“It was very humbling. There were some other really strong candidates in there and to be selected from them was a big honour,” said Smith, winner of the 2012 Sydney Swans Best Clubman award.

The Swans’ number 40 said both UNSW and the Swans had been very supportive of his studies and his development as a professional athlete.

“They have been absolutely great with me and the Swans as well,” he told sydneyswans.com.au.

“They have encouraged me to do some study and it’s not always easy combining the two, but the University of New South Wales have been really flexible in shifting timetables and giving me a bit of extra help when I needed it.”

UNSW Athlete Development Coordinator Helen Bryson said the decisions to honour Smith and Green were unanimous among the selection committee.

Read more about Smith's win here.  

Read more about Green's sporting accomplishments here. 

Media contact: Steve Offner, UNSW Media Office, 02 9385 1583