Junior world champion Felicity Wilson-Haffenden awarded Sport Australia Hall of Fame scholarship

2023 just continues to get better for Felicity Wilson-Haffenden, with the 18-year-old Tasmanian adding a Tier 3 Sport Australia Hall of Fame (SAHOF) scholarship to her growing list of achievements over the past nine months.

Tier 3 scholarship athletes receive a grant of $2,500 plus support from SAHOF and its member base over the next 15 months.

Wilson-Haffenden’s memorable year began at the Road Nats in January, where she won the junior women’s road race in a sprint finish on the Saturday before obliterating the junior women’s individual time trial field on the Monday.

She then won golds in the junior women’s individual and team pursuits at the 2023 Oceania Track Cycling Championships and added a silver in the junior women’s Oceania road race championships.

An Emerging Athlete categorisation followed in May, before her crowning achievement of the junior women’s time trial world championship in Glasgow.

The SAHOF Scholarship andMentoring Program is backed by the Australian Sports Commission incorporating the Australian Institute of Sport, and awards annual funding of $150,000 across 32 scholarships to support the next generation of Australia’s sporting stars.

Felicity Wilson-Haffenden on being selected as a 2024 Tier 3 Scholarship Holder:

“It is a privilege to be a SAHOF scholarship recipient. Looking at the long list of incredible athletes associated with the SAHOF program, its prestige is undeniable. I look forward to being able to learn and grow as an athlete and person with the support of this scholarship.”

AusCycling Chief Executive Officer, Marne Fechner:

"AusCycling is delighted that Felicity Wilson-Haffenden has been awarded a Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship for 2024. Felicity – who only switched to cycling during the pandemic – has had a year to remember, winning the junior women’s time trial at the Oceania Championships in April, and both the junior women’s time trial and road race at the National Championships in January. She then stunned the cycling world by winning the junior women’s time trial at the recent World Championships in Glasgow, and with the help of this scholarship, we look forward to seeing her achieve even more in cycling."

Sport Australia Hall of Fame Chief Executive Officer, Adrianne Sarkozy:

“The Scholarship and Mentoring Program is a unique and powerful program which has seen many of our athletes go on to achieve success on the world stage. We are so grateful to be able to provide these 32 scholarships to help these young athletes chase their sporting dreams. This year we had almost 300 applicants from over 50 sports, which is a testament to the importance and popularity of the program. These scholarships really are a once in a lifetime opportunity to receive not only financial support but encouragement and guidance from the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and our members via various initiatives throughout the program. The level of talent amongst these young athletes is incredible and I am particularly excited this year to follow the journeys of our new and past Scholarship holders. We welcome all 32 athletes into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame family and look forward to providing them with the support, guidance and exclusive opportunities that come from aligning with us.”

Read the full media release.

Images: SWpix.com