Sydney 2000 Women's Water Polo team awarded The Dawn Award

The Sport Australia Hall of Fame is recognising trailblazing women with its two biggest honours in 2023: The Don Award for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ CommBank Matildas and The Dawn Award for the 2000 Sydney Olympics Women’s Water Polo Team.  

The Dawn Award, named after swimming great Dawn Fraser AC MBE and introduced in 2021, honours an individual, team, or organisation – from this or a previous generation – who are courageous, brave, and have changed sport for the better. It was struck to recognise those who may sit below the nation’s consciousness but whose stories are inspiring when given the light of day. Above all, like Dawn, the Award winner has been a courageous ground-breaker who has demonstrated achievement against the odds and challenged the status quo.

In being bestowed upon the Australian Women’s Water Polo Team for their historic victory at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, The Dawn Award for 2023 absolutely epitomises recognition for achievement against the odds and upending the status quo. The Award salutes the culmination of a 20-year struggle to have women’s water polo included in the Olympics and the team’s unbending fight for acceptance and equality, which was as significant as the inaugural gold medal they won. 

For years, Australia had advocated for women’s water polo to be included as an Olympic sport along with the men, who were in the Games from 1900. Undeterred by rejection in the lead-up to the 1984, 1992 and 1996 Olympics, the players and officials were relentless, protesting, meeting with International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials, and campaigning tirelessly to gain the recognition they deserved.

When Juan Antonio Samaranch announced in 1993 that Sydney would host the 2000 Games, FINA, the world swimming body, committed to introducing women’s water polo, before reneging on its pledge. The fight resumed – and this time the Aussie women refused to take no for an answer.

When the IOC and the president of FINA arrived in Sydney in 1997 to inspect the Games venues, they were greeted by members of the Australian women’s water polo team, wearing swimming costumes and bearing placards, demanding the same competitive rights as the men.

The placards were blunt, with two saying “FINA: Female Involvement Not Allowed” and “Sydney 2000, it’s time for Women’s Water Polo”. Players even gatecrashed a media conference. The tide of public sentiment was overwhelmingly in the team’s favour, and with some help from the Australian Olympic Committee, their campaign, their perseverance and persistence was ultimately rewarded.

In October 1997, it was confirmed that women’s water polo would be included in the Sydney 2000 Olympics. However, with squads limited to 11, some of the experienced players were then uncertain about making the team and fulfilling their Olympic dream – a cruel irony.

After just one loss in the preliminary rounds, Australia, coached by István Gögényi, fought an epic battle with the USA in the final. With the scores tied and 1.3 seconds left on the clock, Yvette Higgins, who had just entered the pool, was awarded a free throw nine metres out and blasted the ball into the net to secure a historic 4-3 victory. 

It was fitting that this Australian team, the spearhead for the inclusion of women’s water polo in the Summer Games, won that first gold medal. Without their courage and commitment, building on the groundwork of the pioneers before them, it might never have become an Olympic sport.

The 2000 Australian Women’s Water Polo Team inspired the nation with their will-to-win and never-say-die ethos, all played out on a home stage before packed, parochial crowds.

The Don Award and The Dawn Award are awarded annually by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Selection Committee. Today’s Sport Australia Hall of Fame awards ceremony will also pay tribute to the seven 2023 Inductees into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame: Johnathan Thurston AM, Kim Brennan AM, Kurt Fearnley AO, Lydia Lassila OAM, Nova Peris OAM, Tim Cahill AO and Tim McLaren OAM as well as three very special Members – Bob Skilton OAM, Layne Beachley AO and Mark Ella AM – who have been Elevated to Legend Status.

The Sport Australia Hall of Fame Induction and Awards program is sponsored by the Australian Sports Commission incorporating the Australian Institute of Sport, and supported by Sportscover and Victoria University.