Multiple Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus has become the first person to win the Tasmanian Athlete of the Year for the fourth time.
On a huge day of Tasmanian sporting celebrations, the 24-year-old swimmer was honoured at a cocktail function at Princess Wharf in Hobart.
Following previous wins in 2019, 2020-21 and 2023, it was the first time Titmus had been able to accept the award in person.
The recognition came four months after the Launceston-born freestyle specialist, who moved to Queensland in 2015, won two gold and two silver medals at the Paris Olympics - adding to her haul of two golds, one silver and one bronze from the Tokyo Games.
Titmus made history in the French capital by becoming the first female Australian to defend an Olympic 400m title while also helping set an Olympic record in the 4x200m relay.
She was narrowly edged out by compatriot and St Peters Western clubmate Mollie O’Callaghan in the 200m before again finishing behind long-time American rival Katie Ledecky in the 800m.
In the 4x200m relay, Titmus recorded the fastest split of 1:52.95 as she teamed up with O'Callaghan, Lani Pallister and Brianna Throssell to win gold in 7:38.08 and break the Olympic record of 7:40.33 set by China at the previous Olympics.
Earlier in the year, Titmus had also broken the 200m freestyle world record at the Australian trials.
The former Riverside and Launceston Aquatic Club member was named athlete of the year from a shortlist which included fellow Paris Olympians Eddie Ockenden, Max Giuliani, Alanna Smith and Sarah Hawe.
Competing at his fifth Olympics, Ockenden became the first Tasmanian bestowed the honour of flag-bearer at the opening ceremony.
Taking the pitch in every game in Paris, Ockenden helped the Kookaburras progress from their pool before going down 2-0 to eventual gold medallists The Netherlands in the quarter-finals. The 37-year-old also played a key role as the team won the FIH Pro League and remains the Kookaburras’ most capped player with more than 450 appearances.
After flying home to win the 200m freestyle at the Olympic trials in June, Giuliani made his Australian swimming team debut in Paris. The 21-year-old, who moved from Hobart to the Gold Coast in 2022, made the event final and finished seventh before setting up the 4x200m freestyle relay team for a bronze medal.
Competing at her second Olympic Games, Smith helped the Opals win a bronze medal. The 28-year-old Hobart-born forward, who plays for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA, scored 69 points in the Olympic tournament including 22 in the quarter-final defeat of Serbia. The team lost to eventual gold medallists USA in the semi-final but regrouped in the bronze medal playoff to defeat Belgium 85-81.
Hawe helped the Australian women’s eight secure its best ever result at an Olympic Games. Competing at her second Olympics and turning 37 just three days before the opening ceremony, the Huon rower, who was joint Tasmanian Athlete of the Year in 2017, helped the boat qualify for the final and finish fourth.
In the lead-up to Paris, the Aussie crew had claimed victory in World Cup III in Poznan, Poland.
The Athlete of the Year Award criteria is based on performance at international level plus contribution to sport and the Tasmanian sporting community during the period November 1, 2023, to October 31, 2024.
