Tayte Ryan named Commonwealth Games Australia Emerging Athlete of the Year, Charlie Walsh awarded Order of Merit

Rising track sprinter Tayte Ryan has been named the 2023 Commonwealth Games Australia Emerging Athlete of the Year at the organisation's President's Dinner on Tuesday night.

Ryan, 18, collected three gold medals at last year’s Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago, before going on to win the junior men's 1000m time trial world championship and a sprint silver medal with the ARA Australian Cycling Team at the 2023 UCI Junior Track World Championships in Cali, Colombia.

The South Australian will defend his junior kilo world title and hunt more rainbow jerseys at the 2024 UCI Junior Track World Championships in Luoyang, China this August.

Ryan said receiving the award, which also earns him a $5000 CGA Scholarship towards his sporting endeavours, was "unreal".

Tayte Ryan is the 2023 Commonwealth Games Australia Emerging Athlete of the Year.

"I was up against some of the best athletes in the country and among such a field it was an honour just to be named a finalist, let alone win the award," Ryan said.

"Commonwealth Games Australia provided me with a sensational experience last year that really set me up for world champs and the money received from this award will go a long way to help fund my trip to China this year to defend my world title.

"It’s such an honour to be named as emerging athlete of the year and I am very grateful for the support of Commonwealth Games Australia."

The Commonwealth Games Australia President’s Dinner also saw Orders of Merit presented for the first time, with Australian track cycling icon David ‘Charlie’ Walsh OAM honoured as one of five recipients.

Charlie Walsh receives an Order of Merit from Commonwealth Games Australia.

The Order of Merit complements life membership and recognises the outstanding contribution of individuals to the Commonwealth Sport Movement in Australia and across the world.

Pictures: Commonwealth Games Australia