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News
 HACKETT MAKES SPLASH AT AWARDS
DUAL Olympic 1500 metres freestyle swimming gold medallist, Grant Hackett, has taken out the prestigious 2005 Peter Lacey Gold Coast Sportsman of the Year Award.
It's the seventh consecutive year the Miami club swimmer has taken out the Coast's top sports award, placing him alongside former world 500cc motorcycle champion, Mick Doohan, who also won on seven occasions.
State Member for Surfers Paradise, John-Paul Langbroek, will present the award at tonight's Peter Lacey Golf Day Dinner at The Glades golf course.
Finalists included triathlete Emma Snowsill, cyclist Robbie McEwan, tennis champion Samantha Stosur and boxer Sharon Anyos - all of whom have accomplished significant achievements on national and world stages throughout the year.
Snowsill won three World Cup events this year in Honolulu, Minnesota and Edmonton before clinching her second World Championship in Gamagori, Japan last week.
McEwan finished second for the Green Sprint Jersey in this year's Tour de France, Stosur teamed with American Lisa Raymond to take out the US Open women's doubles title only last week and Anyos goes from strength to strength in pursuit of world title glory.
Earlier this year, when asked to share his personal goal for 2005, Hackett simply answered; "to be better than 2004."
Ordinarily, such a goal would be difficult to achieve so soon after such outstanding Olympic success, but not for Hackett.
At August's 2005 FINA World Championships in Montreal, carrying the added responsibility of Australian Team Captain, he achieved the magnificent trifecta of gold in the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle events, breaking the world record in the 800m along the way.
He also brought home silver in the 200m freestyle and bronze in the 4 x 200m relay.
This haul of medals earned Grant the Male Swimmer of the Meet Award and stamped him the most decorated swimmer in World Championship swimming history.
According to Gold Coast Sporting Hall of Fame Chair, Daphne Pirie, Grant has not only shone in the pool this year.
"His work ethic, enthusiasm and dedication also saw him nominated as the Young Australian of the Year in January," Mrs Pirie said.
"The Peter Lacey Gold Coast Sportsman of the Year Award is administered by the Gold Coast Sporting Hall of Fame.
"It's the only major Gold Coast sporting award for our open age athletes and was established in 2000 in honour of the late Peter Lacey who was a multiple national surf lifesaving champion.
"It has taken over from the long-running Walter Lindrum Award, which ironically was first claimed by Gold Coast 1500m freestyle swimmer, Mexico Olympics medallist, Greg Brough," she said.
ENDS.
Media Logistical Notes:
1. The Peter Lacey Golf Day will be held on Friday 16 Sept - Glades Golf Club;
2. Grant will be at the 7:30pm dinner, where he will be presented with the Sportsman of the Year trophy;
3. State Member for Surfers Paradise, John-Paul Langbroek will present the award;
4. Media are welcome to attend.
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