Solomon named NSW’s top athlete
AUSTRALIAN Olympic hero Steven Solomon has taken out the Richard Coombes Memorial Award for Most Outstanding Male Athlete following his outstanding 12 months on the track, which culminated in making the 400m final at the London Games last August.
AUSTRALIAN Olympic hero Steven Solomon has taken out the Richard Coombes Memorial Award for Most Outstanding Male Athlete following his outstanding 12 months on the track, which culminated in making the 400m final at the London Games last August.
Solomon was also named the top junior sprinter for 2013 at NSW Athletics’ awards night on the weekend.
“I am truly honoured to be the recipient of this award and would like to thank everyone who contributed to my success in London,” Solomon wrote on his Facebook page.
The 19-year-old, who is currently in Europe attempting to qualify for the individual 400m event at the IAAF World Championships in August, went from strength to strength in 2012, winning his second consecutive national title, before running two personal-best times to make the final in London.
“It’s a tremendous achievement for Steve, especially in such a short period of time,” Solomon’s father Michael told The AJN.
“As parents, we just marvel as he keeps on getting better each year, but it’s certainly been a whirlwind adventure.”
Solomon is now set to compete for Australia in the track and field at the upcoming Maccabiah Games.
“Steve loved going four years ago and he’s excited about the opportunity to go again,” Michael said.
“It’s fit in with his program for warming up for the world champs. He’s got a race in Dublin, then he goes to Israel and then he races in London, so hopefully he can get his individual time at one of them.”
Solomon is currently studying medicine on a scholarship at Stanford University in the US, and has already taken part in several races for the Cardinal (Stanford athletics team).
But his year took a turn for the worse when a back injury put his preparation for the Maccabiah Games and the IAAF World Championships on hold.
He is back to full fitness and ready to crack the 45-second barrier for the first time since London.
AJN Staff
comments