Australian Dressage News

Heath Ryan Wins Ian Thorpe Outstanding Achievement Award

November 24, 2009

Heath Ryan was named winner of the Ian Thorpe Outstanding Achievement Award at the New South Wales Institute of Sport Awards held at the Randwick Racecourse on 19 November 2009.

This award acknowledges Heath's outstanding achievements over the past twelve months including success in Dressage and Eventing. During the nomination period Heath Ryan suffered a stroke after developing a blood clot on a flight. While clots aren't uncommon in travellers, Ryan's found its way to his brain a month later. After a number of operations and intensive physiotherapy, Ryan was back on the horse competing, and running his business, in only a matter of weeks, and finished the year with two bronze medals from the Sydney Three Day Event.

Heath has made a remarkable recovery and the Australian Equestrian Federation has expressed its pride in his tenacity, sportsmanship and courage.

Heath and his wife Rozzie were also nominated in the Sportspeople.com.au Career Awards category which acknowledged their career achievements in not only competition but training, coaching and breeding.

The other finalists in the Ian Thorpe Outstanding Achievement Award were:

• Geoff Huegill – Swimming
  Geoff Huegill retired from swimming shortly after the 2004 Athens Olympics. During his retirement Huegill lived a relaxed lifestyle, at times weighing in at 130 kilograms. In late 2008, Huegill made the choice to return to swimming and began training with the Institute’s International Training Program, losing over 40 kilograms for his return, winning a bronze medal at the Mare Nostrum series in Europe.
  
• Prashanth Sellathurai – Men’s Artistic Gymnastics
  Prashanth Sellathurai suffers from Schuermann’s Disease, a painful back condition that requires ongoing treatment. Despite these complications, Sellathurai still competes at the highest level, winning two silvers and a bronze in world cup competition during the nomination period.
  
• Malek Chamoun – Weightlifting
  Malek Chamoun suffers from a degenerative eye condition which has now rendered him legally blind. In the sport of weightlifting, balance and body awareness are extremely important to achieve success and Chamoun has overcome these obstacles to succeed, winning gold at the 2009 Commonwealth junior weightlifting championships, and bronze in the senior event.
  
• Shannon Dallas – AWD Winter Sports
  A few days after winning world championship gold in February 2009, Shannon Dallas was involved in a high speed crash during competition. The injury caused Dallas to miss a number of international competitions. Dallas underwent a full shoulder reconstruction and intense rehabilitation in order to get back to the top, and is looking for a berth at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympic Games.

Related Links
Update on Heath Ryan's Condition After Suspected Stroke
Heath Ryan Suffers a Stroke
Parbery Leads in 2009 Australian Dressage Championships