WA athletes supported to pursue sporting excellence

• Six Western Australian athletes selected as VenuesWest Ambassadors for 2026-27
• Backed by the Cook Labor Government, the program supports elite and emerging athletes to pursue high-performance sport
• Program supports the Cook Labor Government’s commitment to promote active, healthy lifestyles

Six Western Australian athletes will receive significant financial support and development opportunities as VenuesWest Ambassadors, backed by the Cook Labor Government, to assist their pursuit of high-performance sport.

Each athlete will receive $10,000 towards training and competition expenses and to reduce the need for part-time work, allowing them to dedicate more hours to their development.

Para-athletes will receive an additional $2,000 as part of VenuesWest’s commitment to drive success in para sport and recognise the additional costs associated with specialised equipment.

The 2026-27 ambassador cohort includes: 

• Luke Egger - Canoe Sprint, Australian Senior Team;
• Taishar Ovens - Wheelchair Basketball, Australian Gliders;
• Katelyn Smith - Football, ParaMatildas;
• Alanah Yukich - Hurdles, Australian Team;
• Alyssa Burgess - Swimming, Australia A Swim Team; and
• Anika Gosling - Discus.

Since its inception in 2017, the VenuesWest Ambassador Program has provided $252,000 to more than 30 Western Australian athletes who have gone on to represent Australia or their sport at the highest level.

At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, former ambassadors Nina Kennedy, Zoe Arancini, Iona Anderson, and Joshua Yong won medals for Australia, while Paralympians Rhiannon Clarke and Kane Perris recorded fourth-place finishes in their respective events.

The program’s success was again on display at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, where seven former ambassadors represented Australia and collectively won 11 medals, including four golds.

The new cohort of Ambassadors will receive funding and support through to 31 January 2028, a crucial period for many as they pursue qualification for the LA 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and build towards Brisbane 2032. 

Comments attributed to Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti:

“Western Australia has a proud history of producing world-class athletes, and the Cook Labor Government is committed to supporting their development by investing in facilities, programs, and pathways.

“Funding provided through the VenuesWest Ambassador Program supports local athletes at critical stages of their careers, helping them to reach their full potential while inspiring the community to participate in sport.”