While many athletes chose to dedicate their time to one sport, Chelsea Jones can't split her love for two: surf lifesaving and swimming.
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And the 16-year-old is excelling at both disciplines.
The Bulli teenager was rewarded for her commitment and achievements on Friday night when she received the Tobin Family Award - the Illawarra Academy of Sport's most prestigious honour.
Jacob Roulstone was the runner-up.
The award, which recognises the academy's Athlete of the Year, is named in honour of one of the IAS's founding members Ted Tobin.
Jones joins the likes of past winners Sally Fitzgibbons, Blake Govers and Kieran Woolley in etching her name in Illawarra sporting folklore.
"It's a massive honour. I'm very excited that I've been honoured by the academy and I'm proud to have my name beside the athletes who have won it in previous years," Jones said.
"The academy creates a pathway that allows us regional athletes to have a professional feel about how we can progress in our sporting careers. It's great opportunities that they give us."
Jones, a third-year IAS student in the Lonestar program, has enjoyed a successful past 12 months, despite the impact of COVID.
In surf lifesaving, she was part of a team that won two bronze medals at the Australian Surf Championships and also collected three golds and two silvers at the state championships.
Jones also surged ahead in the pool. She claimed an individual silver and was part of two gold-medal winning relay teams at the Australian Age Swimming Championships.
At state level, Jones won 11 golds and seven silvers at various championships, smashing four NSW records.
"I've had some pretty good success in the pool and the surf with the academy's support," Jones said.
"I love both sports and I want to see how far it can take me."
Other award winners on Friday night were South Coast's Curtis Trkjula (cycling), Keiran Woolley (Lonestar), Braydan Daly (basketball), Ethan Harvey (golf) and Talika Irvine (swimming).
Ivy Halliwell (Aussie rules), Telaya Blacksmith (AWD), Brayden Daly (basketball), Ethan Harvey (golf), Charli Corbin (hockey), Gabby Eaton (netball), Heidi Walton (netball umpire), Veronica Agavale (rugby) and Montana Doubell (triathlon) rounded out the athletes recognised.
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