WORLD champion wheelchair basketballer Nick Taylor leads a trio of Illawarra athletes vying to win the prestigious Team Athlete of the Year award at the annual New South Wales Institute of Sport Awards.
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Hockey star Kieran Govers and swimming ace Emma McKeon are also in the running to win the top gong during the awards night at the Australian Turf Club in Randwick on Thursday, November 20.
But it is Wollongong-based Taylor who leads the pack with three award nominations, including the Regional Athlete of the Year award and the Career Development award.
Taylor, who has achieved exceptional sporting results while managing his hectic professional life as a digital delivery manager at Westpac, says his sporting highlight this year came at the 2014 IWBF World Championships in Korea, where he won gold as part of the Australian men's team.
"It's an honour to be nominated, especially considering just how many incredible athletes there are at the NSWIS," Taylor said.
"My ultimate goal is to make the Rollers team for Rio, and then go one better than the silver medal we won in London," he said.
An extremely grateful Taylor thanked his wife for all the sacrifices she had made in allowing him to pursue his dreams.
"She doesn't get to feel the excitement and immense honour that comes with representing Australia, making her sacrifices truly selfless, and for this I'll be forever grateful," he said.
Australian hockey representative Govers has also had a year to remember, and is also nominated for three awards, including for Male Athlete of the Year.
Govers was an integral part of the Australian men's hockey team's success during the nomination period, with the talented striker scoring a number of goals as Australia defended their FIH World Cup title, before going on to win Australia's fifth consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal.
Mount Kembla native McKeon also enjoyed a fantastic year that was highlighted by six medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The swimmer won gold in three relay events, while also triumphing in the women's 200m freestyle and taking bronze in the women's 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly events.
Having enjoyed the fruits of success this season, McKeon has also been nominated for the Female Athlete of the Year award capping off a memorable 12 months for the swimmer who now lives and trains in Queensland.
The NSW Institute of Sport Awards are considered the state's premier annual sports awards and recognises achievement in 11 categories.
