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Para-Sport Legends To Mentor Rising Athletes

Para-Sport Legends To Mentor Rising Athletes
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Louise Sauvage and Michael Milton – winners of a combined 15 Paralympic Games gold medals across their extraordinary careers – will share their experience with two lucky teenagers who have been named as recipients of the 2026 Sport Australia Hall of Fame scholarship.  

Para-swimmer Declan Budd and Para-rower Isobel Egan are among six young athletes whose Tier 1 scholarships include one-on-one mentoring alongside a grant of $10,000 to assist with training and competition expenses. 

Other mentors involved in the program include cricketer Adam Gilchrist, swimmer Libby Trickett, cyclist Robbie McEwen and taekwondo player Lauren Burns. 

The six mentors, each from a different sport to their mentees, will provide guidance and advice to outstanding young athletes aged 15 to 21 as they pursue excellence on the global stage.  

“For me to be a mentor with the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Program is an honour,” said Sauvage, who won nine Paralympic gold medals between 1992 and 2000 in wheelchair racing distances ranging from 100 metres to 5000 metres.  

“To think I can share some of my knowledge of not only being an athlete but now as a coach within this ever-changing sporting system is fantastic. I look forward to working with my mentee and helping her achieve her goals in and out of sport.  

“To be a part of someone’s journey is the most rewarding experience.” 

Milton – Australia’s most successful Paralympic winter athlete with six gold medals at three Games between 1992 and 2002 – said: “As a member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, I have extensive experience to share with today’s young athletes.  

“This is my first time participating in the program and I see it as a valuable opportunity for mutual learning. I’ll provide my mentee with guidance and support, while also learning from them about what it means to be an athlete in the digital age.” 

Milton’s mentee, 18-year-old Budd, who competes in the S14 classification, represented Australia at this year’s World Para Swimming Championships and reached the final of all three of his events. At the Australian Short Course Championships last year, he broke the world record in the men’s 50 metres butterfly (S14) with a time of 25.7 seconds.  

Egan, 17, who competes in the PR3 classification, won three gold medals at the Australian Rowing Championships this year, in the women’s single scull, mixed double scull and single scull sprint. She raced at the 2025 U23 World Championships in Poland.  

Among the other mentors, Gilchrist, who will work with 2025 U19 Oceania mountain biking champion, Connor Wright, said: “I had a great experience mentoring previously, and it was such a delight to watch their progress. Now, to embark on this journey with another exceptionally talented young athlete is incredibly rewarding.  

“I’m hopeful that the lessons I’ve learned throughout my own journey will help guide them along their path.”  

Burns, who will mentor fencer Katarina Egan said: “To have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference is a privilege. Sport has influenced my life in so many ways and this is a chance to give something back by helping nurture, not just performance, with the values and resilience that underpin a fulfilling life in and beyond sport.  

“I have had some incredible mentors in my own sporting journey, many of whom I remain close with today. I understand firsthand the impact a mentor can have, particularly someone outside the inner world of their sport.”  

Katie Page, CEO of Harvey Norman, said: “Harvey Norman is proud to work in lockstep with the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Institute of Sport to deliver the 32 new Sport Australia Hall of Fame scholarships for 2026. These scholarships will ensure our talented 15-to-21-year-old athletes and Para-athletes can continue to train and compete at the elite level.  

“Congratulations to all the 2026 scholarship recipients and equally thank you to all the applicants. We wish each of you every success.”  

2026 Sport Australia Hall of Fame 
Tier 1 Scholarship Holders & Mentors: 

  • Winner of three gold medals at the 2025 Australian Rowing (Para) Championships, Isobel Egan, 17, ACT (Mentor: Louise Sauvage OAM).   

A further 26 additional athletes have been awarded scholarships. Beyond support from the Hall of Fame and its celebrated membership, Tier 2 athletes receive a $5,000 sporting expenses grant, and Tier 3 athletes receive $2,500 each. All scholarship recipients also receive merchandise from the Sport Australia Hall of Fame partners.  

The 2026 Tier 2 scholarship holders are: Grace Brimelow (Paris 2024 Paralympian in Para-triathlon), Jack McShane (2024 Australian Indoor Lawn Bowls champion), Keefer Wilson (2024 Paris Olympian in skateboarding, 8th place), Maddison Brooks (2024 Paris Olympics hockey player), James Johnstone (snowboarding), Nya Hayman (weightlifting), Maggie Grey (diving), Charlotte Wilson (mogul skiing), Alicia Tan (rhythmic gymnastics) and Jye Dixon (boxing).  

The 2026 Tier 3 scholarship holders are: Arika Shetty (Para-badminton), Oliver Fanshawe (wheelchair tennis), Caterina Longhi (artistic swimming), Lucy Darragh (surfing), Emma Putt (water polo), Bilal Cetin (wrestling), Toby Clack (eight ball), Anastasiia Golubeva (figure skating), Nicholas Odgers (modern pentathlon), Lucas Furlan (shooting), Joanne Joseph (squash), Gabriella Blewitt (taekwondo), Archie McDonald (motorcycle racing), Rory Meehan (sailing), Angus Cormack (judo) and Delta Amidzovski (athletics).  

Sport Australia Hall of Fame Chair and legend of Australian Sport, John Bertrand, said: “We are proud to welcome the next generation of elite junior athletes into our 2026 Scholarship and Mentoring Program. This initiative is a place where talent meets opportunity and dreams are fuelled by the guidance and support of some of Australia’s greatest sporting stars.  

“Hall of Famers Michael Milton, Louise Sauvage, Adam Gilchrist, Robbie McEwen, Libby Trickett and Dr Lauren Burns – what an incredible group of Australian sporting champions to mentor these young athletes.  

“This program is made possible through the generosity of our Members, and we are grateful to them for sharing their personal experiences and wisdom to inspire and guide these young athletes to strive for excellence, embrace challenges with courage, and pursue their dreams through the highs and lows of elite sport.  

“We also extend our sincere gratitude to our partners, the Australian Sports Commission incorporating the Australian Institute of Sport and Harvey Norman, for their invaluable support in making this program possible.  

“We look forward to supporting these 32 young athletes to grow, learn and take their sporting journeys to new heights.”  

Australian Sports Commission Chair Kate Jenkins congratulated the 2026 scholarship recipients.  

“The Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship program embodies everything we are striving for at the Australian Sports Commission, producing well-rounded individuals who are set up for success beyond sport. The record number of applications is a testament to this important initiative.  

“I congratulate all the recipients and wish them well for their future endeavours.”  

The Sport Australia Hall of Fame received a record 341 submissions for the 2026 scholarships, with an applicant pool comprising 154 males (45 per cent) and 187 females (55 per cent), including 26 Para-sport athletes (7.6 per cent). Applications were submitted from every state (except the Northern Territory), with NSW leading at 31 per cent and the east coast of Australia accounting for 78 per cent of the total.  

By SAHOF and David Sygall, Paralympics Australia 

Swimming image credit: Delly Carr

Published: 21 October 2025