AT the time of the Tokyo Olympics, anyone would have been forgiven for thinking Cedric Dubler had upstaged decathlon Logan’s own Ashley Moloney.
Dubler, who finished last in the event, urged Moloney to the finish line, where he became Australia’s first ever decathlon medalist.
On Saturday night, Moloney was recognised in his backyard as the city’s Sportsperson of the Year – no mean feat in an Olympic year, and one in which other local products Logan Martin (freestyle BMX) and Mollie O’Callaghan (swimming) won gold medals.
“Honestly, my mind was racing (during the 1500m),” Moloney said at the awards.
“I thought ‘I could lose this’, even though I knew I had it. That’s the scariest thing about decathlon, you could lose it all in literally milliseconds.”
In a great year for Logan sport, the Logan Sports Awards were a grand event.
“It’s hard to put into words,” Moloney said.
“I wasn’t expecting it at all, especially two (awards), but I’m stoked,” he said.
“Jimboomba Little Athletics was the starting point of my career, I reckon if I didn’t go to Jimboomba I wouldn’t be a decathlete (because) it’s where I started pole vault.”
NRL legend Cameron Smith who is yet another Logan success story, was guest guest speaker in front of the 600-strong crowd at the Logan Metro Sports and Events Centre.
“There’s so many great athletes not only at club level but through the schooling system as well,” he said of Logan’s sporting talent.
“I’ve been away from Logan for a long time but it’s really impressive now to be able to come back into the area and see how much it’s grown, (and) how much junior sport is thriving.
“It’s not only myself that was able to live out a dream that I had when I was young,” Smith said.
“You look at Logan (Martin), and (swimmer) Jodie (Henry), and the other great athletes in the room that have been able to live out that dream.
“It’s just about believing in yourself (and) being willing to work hard and make some sacrifices along the way.”
Moloney, Martin, O’Callaghan and Tokyo steeplechase finalist Genevieve Gregson were honoured with Golden Banksia Awards, which are presented to City of Logan residents (or former residents) in recognition of extraordinary achievement on an international stage.
Slacks Creek boxer Shannon ‘Shotgun’ O’Connell was named Sportswoman of the Year.
O’Connell won a WBA (World Boxing Association) gold title in March and just last month retained her Commonwealth Bantamweight title. O’Connell is ranked fourth in the world in her weight division.
The winners of the 2021 City of Logan Sports Awards were:
• Sports Official of the Year – Aleisha Neumann, Marsden State High School
• Sports Administrator of the Year – Brian Roberts, Logan Brothers
• Sports Coach of the Year – Edward Dimmack, Logan City Speed Skating Club
• Sports Team of the Year – Marsden State High School Rugby League
• Sports Event of the Year – Griffith Sport Logan Fun Run
• Sports Organisation of the Year – Logan Basketball
• Young Sportsman of the Year – Connor Gillen, Muaythai Mulisha
• Young Sportswoman of the Year – Losa Niumata, Brisbane North Cougars
• Master Sportsperson of the Year – Marion Hermitage, Multisport Gold
Triathlon Club
• Elite Athlete with a Disability – Andre Rivett, Queensland Athletics
• Sportswoman of the Year – Shannon O’Connell, Boxing
• Sportsman of the Year – Ashley Moloney
• Sportsperson of the Year – Ashley Moloney
• Judges’ Choice Awards –
o Tristram Peters, Football Queensland (category – Elite Athlete with a
Disability)
o Trudy Bartlett, Marsden State High School (category – Sports Coach of
the Year)
Golden Banksia Award winners:
• Ashley Moloney – Tokyo Olympics, Athletics – Decathlon (bronze medallist)
• Logan Martin – Tokyo Olympics, BMX (gold medallist)
• Mollie O’Callaghan – Tokyo Olympics, Swimming (two gold, one bronze in
relay events)
• Genevieve Gregson – Tokyo Olympics, Athletics (3000m Steeplechase Final)
