Celebrating VU's sporting achievements

The 2018 Victoria University Sport Awards celebrates, acknowledges and supports the 600 plus past and present students, clubs representatives and VU academic staff who have dedicated time, enthusiasm and tireless commitment towards reaching their sporting goals.

At last night’s Sport Awards event at the University’s City Flinders campus, VU formally recognised an array of sporting achievements, and launched the Victoria University Sports Strategy: From Grassroots to Elite.

Victoria University (VU) is one of Australia’s leading Sport Universities with an international reputation in sport teaching, research, industry engagement and partnership and commercialisation. It is ranked at number 12 on the influential Shanghai Global Rankings of Sport Science Schools and Departments. The new strategy is an exciting blue-print as VU continues to build its reputation as an outstanding sporting university.

At last night’s event, leaders in sport, participants and friends of VU gathered to celebrate our long and proud tradition of sporting excellence. VU students and representative teams regularly exceed expectations at regional and national university championships while many students also represent their country at key international events including Olympic Games, Paralympics, Commonwealth Games, World Championships and World University Games and Championships.

Award recipients

Victoria University Sport Hall of Fame

Dr Ali Abdo, Olympic wrestling champion, was inducted in the Victoria University Sport Hall of Fame. Dr Abdo represented Australia at the 2000 Olympic Games (Sydney), 2004 Olympic Games (Athens) and the 2008 Olympic Games (Beijing). Ali commenced his wrestling on campus with the Footscray Wrestling Club and was a student during all his Olympic campaigns completing two undergraduate degrees, a graduate diploma and a Masters in Osteopathy. Ali had his citation delivered by Hall of Famer Mike McKay OAM four-time rowing world champion and Olympian. Ali joins an esteemed list of sporting greats in VU’s Sport Hall of Fame.

Winner: Female Athlete of the Year, Gronya Somerville (Badminton)

Bachelor of Sport Science (Clinical Practice)
Gronya, a 2018 VU Elite High Performance Scholarship recipient and Full Blue is the Australian National Women's Doubles Champion 2017, 2018 and Oceania Women's Doubles Champion 2017, 2018. Gronya competed for Australia at the 2018 Commonwealth Games finishing 4th in Women's Doubles after reaching the qrtr final. Ranked top 25 in world for women’s doubles Gronya’s Highest World ranking is 18.

Winner: Male Athlete of the Year, Sergei Evglevski (Shooting Pistol)

Bachelor of Business
Sergei a 2018 VU Elite High Performance Scholarship recipient, Full Blue and current national champion is a gold medallist from the 2018 FISU World University shooting world championships for mens rapid fire  (Including a new qualification personal best) and silver medallist for the men’s team rapid fire. Sergei immediately followed up his World Uni Championship with Silver for Australia at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the men’s 25m rapid fire. Sergei is also a nominee for the 2018 University Sport Australia Awards for Male Athlete of the Year.

Winner: The Jacinta Carroll Sporting and Academic Award, Emily Rogers (Synchronised Swimming)

Bachelor of Sport Management
Emily Rogers is an Olympian and Full Blue having made her debut for Australia at the 2016 Rio Olympics whilst a year 12 secondary student. In 2017 and commencing with VU in the Diploma of Sport Development Emily captained the Australian Synchronised swim team at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest and had the honour of being selected flag bearer for the overall Australian Swim team. In 2018 Emily has excelled in her Bachelor of Sport Management Degree whilst continuing to achieve at the highest level in her sport winning gold at in the Senior Free Duet, Bronze in senior Free Solo and Bronze Open Age combo. An ambassador for VU’s elite athlete program Emily is also a swim teacher in the University’s Aquatic and Fitness centre and focussed on the 2019 World Championships and qualification for Tokyo 2020.

Team of the Year

Basketball Men – UniSport Nationals Div1 Champions

The audience was inspired and entertained as the peak award winners were interviewed on stage by MC Bianca Chatfield, former Australian Diamond and Vixens netballer recent The Block contestant and current Head coach of the VU netball Academy.