Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race winner Jiang Lin and Cole Tapper’s Kairos Racing team have been announced amongst 77 finalists from more than 30 sports for the prestigious 2026 NSW Sports Awards.

Jiang is nominated in the Athlete of the Year category alongside Olympic great Jessica Fox OAM, dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist Rose Davies, hockey player Jocelyn Bartram OLY, Joseph Glasson (fencing), Ethan McGuinness (gymnastics) and Jemma Samith (surf life saving).

The Kairos Racing crew of Tapper, George Richardson, Jack Frewin, Max Brennan, Hamish Vass and Nathan Gulliksen will join the NSW Blues rugby league women, NSW Waratahs rugby union women, the Sydney Kings, UNSW Wests Magpies water polo club, the NSW Blues Women’s lawn bowls side and the NSW Junior squash team as finalists in the Team of the Year category.

The winners will be announced at the gala NSW Champions of Sport Ceremony at The Sydney Event Centre, The Star, Pyrmont, on Monday 23 November. The Ceremony will also see CYCA Member David Pescud OAM inducted into the NSW Hall of Champions.

Sport NSW CEO Ellie Laing-Southwood said the finalists represent the extraordinary range of talent and commitment across the state’s sporting community.

“Our impressive list of finalists includes household names like Jessica Fox, but also other athletes, coaches and officials most people won’t have heard of yet, but whose contributions to NSW sport deserve to be showcased at our most prestigious event of the year,” Mrs Laing-Southwood said.

“That’s why these awards matter so much – that we tell the stories of sport at all levels and all abilities.

“This is a night where we celebrate the people who bring us great joy and pride by achieving at the highest levels, as well as those who are the enablers of those achievements, creators of opportunity, and masters of fun in NSW sport.

“This list also shows how the depth of NSW’s sporting talent isn’t always just emerging from metropolitan high-performance centres, but also community sports facilities in the bush and on the coast.

“I also want to acknowledge that behind every name, event and organisation listed as a finalist is likely a team of volunteers, often with few resources, but a deep understanding of the positive power of sport.

“With Brisbane 2032 on the horizon, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to further strengthen sport in this state, knowing that any investment in sport is an investment in the strength, health, connectedness and wellbeing of the NSW community,” she said.