Hooker wins prestigious 'Don award'

Pole vaulter Steve Hooker has been rewarded for his thrilling gold-medal performance in Beijing, named joint winner of the prestigious 2008 Don Award at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame (SAHOF) function at Crown Melbourne last night.

The annual award - named in honour of cricketing legend Sir Donald Bradman - recognises the sporting achievement of the year that most inspires the nation.

Diver Matthew Mitcham was also honoured alongside Hooker, following his amazing dive on his final attempt to snatch the 10m platform gold medal away from China's Zhou Lexin.

In Beijing, Hooker cleared the bar four times on his third and final attempt before setting a new Games record of 5.96m, becoming the first Australian to win an Olympic pole vault title.  It was the first Olympic athletics gold medal won by an Australian man since Ralph Doubell’s victory in 800m at the Mexico City Olympic Games in 1968.

Speaking at last night’s function, Hooker was honoured to have won the award.

"This is absolutely amazing from my perspective," Hooker said.

"The reality of everything that happened in Beijing is just sinking in now because up until now it has been a bit of a dream.

"Everyone in the field deserved the award and I was surprised and very honoured that I was chosen along with Matthew to win it."

The other 2008 Don Award nominees were swimmer Stephanie Rice, triathlete Emma Snowsill, cyclist Anna Meares, MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner and Sally McLellan who won Olympic silver in the 100m hurdles in a photo finish.

400m runner Kurt Mulcahy was awarded one of the nine scholarships provided to talented up-and-coming sportsmen and women. First introduced in 2006, the SAHOF Scholarship Program, provides encouragement and funding over 12 months, in addition to personal mentoring from a current Hall of Fame Member.

Bart Cummings, the trainer of a record 11 Melbourne Cup winners, was inducted as the 28th legend of the SAHOF.

Swimming legend Ian Thorpe, tennis doubles stars Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde, Allan Langer (rugby league), Alisa Camplin (aerial skiing), Lou Richards (AFL), Dave Nilsson (baseball) and John Carew, the coach of Kieren Perkins, were inducted as members into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.