Athletics victory in Finland for 2021 Mandurah Sports Award winner

Local athletics champion and big winner at the 2021 Mandurah Sports Awards Sharon Davis has recently returned from Finland having won three gold medals at the World Masters Athletics Championships.

Davis was named Masters Sports Person of the Year at last year’s City of Mandurah Sports Awards for her efforts and success in athletics, including ending 2020 ranked second in the world in the Women’s 45-49 age group in the 800m track event.

At the World Masters Athletics Championships 2022 held in Tampere, Finland, Davis raced in the Women’s 45-49 age group in 800m, 1500m and the 4x400m relay for Australia, winning gold in each event.

A personal trainer at the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre, Davis started athletics from a young age and now coaches upcoming sports stars in Mandurah and Rockingham.

Davis started athletics at the age of 10 and continued with the sport until she was 25-years-old, breaking to start a family.

She returned to the sport for fun at the age of 40, and after a few years she realised she could do well if she trained hard enough.

“The motivation to continue training at such a high level is the success that comes with it,” Davis said.

“I love being with likeminded people and challenging my body. It’s an unexpected bonus that I have achieved good results, although I think I would train the same way even if not. I also enjoy the challenge of what I can push my body to do, especially as I get older.”

Nominations are now open for the 2022 City of Mandurah Sports Awards, recognising homegrown sporting role models in the community.

Nominations close on Tuesday, September 27.

Local sports players, clubs, volunteers and those behind the scenes can be nominated for these prestigious annual awards, which honour and support Mandurah’s sporting stars.

The awards, now in their eighth year, acknowledge achievement and excellence among the local sporting community, honouring sports people, volunteers and clubs who have a strong connection with, or are based in, Mandurah and have achieved success within their field.

Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony at the Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club on November 23.

The nine categories are:
 Sports Person of the Year
 Masters Sports Person of the Year
 Junior Sports Person of the Year
 Sports Person of the Year with Disability
 Team of the Year
 Club of the Year
 Junior Team of the Year
 ‘Ken Phillips’ Male Volunteer of the Year
 Female Volunteer of the Year
 Junior Volunteer of the Year
 Inclusion Program or Event
To make a nomination go to www.mandurah.wa.gov.au/sportsawards