Local Olympian selected for scholarship

Narre Warren racewalker Bec Henderson has been selected for the program. Picture: SUPPLIED

By Nick Creely

Narre Warren racewalking prodigy and Olympian Bec Henderson has been selected by The Sport Australia Hall of Fame (SAHOF) for the 2022 Scholarship and Mentoring Program.

The SAHOF announced on Monday 16 outstanding young athletes for the Tier 3 Scholarship Program, which hails from a variety of sports. Each rising young athlete will receive a $2500 sporting grant plus support and encouragement across the next 14 months from SAHOF and its esteemed member base.

Henderson, 20, is the first race-walker to be selected in the program, and was the youngest athlete to compete in the 20km race walk at the recent Tokyo Olympics, and said it was an honour to earn a scholarship.

Outside of athletics, the rising local star was Dux at Berwick College, and attained Scholars at Monash University. After sport, she aspires to study medicine while helping inspiring the next generation of athletes.

“Becoming a Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship Holder is so amazing as it will help give me the resources to continue to compete at an elite level, while keeping up with my studies and work,” she said.

“It will allow me to continue improving and moving up in the senior ranks, to hopefully become the best possible athlete and person I can be.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this awesome program and can’t wait for the season ahead.”

Sport Australia Hall of Fame chief executive officer, Adrianne Sarkozy said it was terrific to see so many different sports represented.

“We are all delighted to see such a varied array of sports represented in this program,” she said.

“From the traditional Olympic and Paralympic sports such as swimming, cycling and athletics to Olympic and Paralympic debut sports such as skateboarding, sport climbing and bocce.  Additionally, the program provides inclusion for professional and non-Olympic/Paralympic sports such as cricket, netball, lawn bowls and many others.

“It is a unique program and an opportunity to inspire the next generation of Australian sporting heroes.”

Sue Stanley OAM, the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program chair, said it will help shape the futures for these young athletes.

“We acknowledge a further 16 elite young Australian athletes as Tier 3 Scholarship Holders and, through the Scholarship & Mentoring Program, offer them encouragement and financial assistance to help shape their athletic futures and achieve their dreams,” she said.