Gold Coast Olympian and unbeaten world boxing champion Jai Opetaia has been crowned the Gold Coast 2022 Sports Star of the Year.
The 27-year-old was given the honour at a star-studded event held at the RACV Royal Pines Resort on Saturday night.
Opetaia pipped an illustrious field of Gold Coast sporting stars to take out the award, including last year’s winner, swimmer Emma McKeon and fellow swimmer Elijah Winnington.
Surf lifesaving legend Ali Day was also in the running, alongside Titans star Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, BMX freestyler Logan Martin, motorsport’s Shane Van Gisbergen, surfer Stephanie Gilmour and rugby’s Maddison Levi.
With twenty-two professional fights and twenty-two wins under his glittering belt, Jai holds both the IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles.
The boxing champ took to social media on Sunday, writing he’s “honored to receive the Gold Coast sports star of the year award”.
“Crazy feeling to see my name up there with some of Australia’s biggest names but at the same time ‘it ain’t given, it’s earned’” he said.
“Thank you to my team who have always backed me … we enjoyed the award night now let’s get back to work”.
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It was a tight contest for the Gold Coast Para Sport Star Award, which went to wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby superstar Ella Sabljak.
While Olympic medallist and 400m freestyle World Champion Elijah Winnington and 2022 Sevens Rugby World Cup series winning team member Maddison Levi claimed the City of Gold Coast Mayor’s Award.
The Hot Tomato People’s Choice Grassroots Team Award was taken out by the first club in Southeast Queensland to develop a junior dragon boating program.
Voted by the Gold Coast’s radio station listeners, the Coomera Dragon Boating Club has fostered many junior paddlers since it started, enabling them to compete at regattas from the Sunshine Coast to Coolangatta.
Sports Gold Coast Chairman Geoff Smith said the awards had again been a huge success, with 500 sports stars and guests celebrating the achievements of the city’s sporting stars.
“The Gold Coast Sports and Para Sports Awards have been an iconic celebration of sport and our past, present and future sporting champions since its inception in 1968,” he said.
“As we head towards the 2032 Olympics it’s critical that we continue to showcase our sporting stars and our sporting assets with the awards essential in the promotion, development and recognition of the city as a world class sporting, tourism and event destination.”
