Nine of the 12 athletes nominated for the 2022 WA Sports Star award are female, reflecting a golden year for the state's women in sport. The winner will be crowned on Thursday at Optus Stadium.
The awards have been running since 1956 and include past winners such as Justin Langer, Nat Fyfe, Adam Gilchrist, Dennis Lillee, Ben Cousins and Luc Longley. Reigning champion Madison de Rozario is nominated again after being named Australia's Paralympian of the Year and winning two Commonwealth Games golds.
De Rozario aims to become the first back-to-back winner since Sam Kerr in 2018, but faces stiff competition from Kerr herself, who finished third in Ballon d'Or voting and broke Tim Cahill's record for most national team goals. Other female nominees include West Coast Fever captain Courtney Bruce, pole vaulter Nina Kennedy, golfer Minjee Lee, cricketer Alana King, basketballer Sami Whitcomb, lawn bowler Kristina Krstic, and canoe sprinter Yale Steinpreis.
Male nominees are cyclist Matthew Richardson, road cyclist Jai Hindley, and para-canoeist Benjamin Sainsbury. Additionally, Sandra O'Keefe, Derek Gatley, and Ian Toy will receive the May Campbell Medal for their combined nearly 200 years of service to sport.
