Mills given sport's highest honour after Olympics

2 years ago 455

Patty Mills has been rewarded for a aureate twelvemonth aft helium was named the victor of The Don grant for 2021.

Mills enjoyed a tremendous 2021, with the item being his brilliance astatine the Tokyo Olympics which saw Australia's men's hoops squad triumph its archetypal medal ever.

After being Australia's flagbearer alongside Cate Campbell astatine the Olympics, Mills led his broadside to the bronze medal with 42 points against Slovenia to unafraid a portion of history.

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"I ne'er acceptable retired to triumph awards similar this," a humble Mills said aft receiving the award.

Mills scored 42 points successful the bronze medal crippled against Slovenia astatine the Tokyo Olympics (Getty)

"I spell astir my trade arsenic a nonrecreational and larn ways to get better, trying to transportation myself successful a mode that I deliberation tin animate others. Being recognised successful this mode to maine isn't astir who I beryllium alongside, it's astir however I tin animate others with my journey."

Mills finished the Olympics having averaged 23.3 points per crippled and was named arsenic a defender successful the FIBA All-Star 5 for Tokyo.

After 10 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, Mills joined the Brooklyn Nets arsenic a escaped agent and has been captious to the Eastern Conference leaders' commencement to the season.

Mills drained 7 consecutive three-point shots connected debut for the Nets and has changeable a career-best 47.8 per cent from heavy done 21 games this season.

Goolagong Cawley celebrates her 1971 Wimbledon rubric wherever she bushed chap Australian Margaret Court (Getty)

Mills joins the likes of Ash Barty, Cathy Freeman, Jeff Horn and Michelle Payne arsenic athletes to person won The Don award.

Tennis large Evonne Goolagong-Cawley was besides honoured, named the inaugural victor of The Dawn Award, an grant named aft Dawn Fraser fixed to a courageous ground-breaker.

"To triumph The Dawn grant is an unthinkable honour," Goolagong-Cawley said. "I person been unwell and this has been the eventual cheer-up for me. To beryllium the archetypal recipient makes it adjacent much special.

"Dawn is 1 of Australia's top athletes and has been a root of inspiration passim my life. She is besides a bully friend, and I americium truthful pleased the Sport Australia Hall of Fame has chosen her to person specified a prestigious grant successful her sanction alongside Sir Don Bradman."

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