PNG’s sprint queen, Toea Wisil, has been awarded Best Female Athlete of the Samoa 2019 Pacific Games by the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) at the ANOC Awards 2019.
The sixth edition of the annual awards ceremony took place at the Katara Cultural Village during the XXIV ANOC General Assembly in Doha, Qatar.
Wisil, who won a historic triple-triple individual Gold at the 2019 Pacific Games, was amongst 10 of the best athletes from a range of continental multisport events awarded in Doha. The award was presented by IOC Executive Board Member, ANOC Senior Vice President and ANOC Acting President, Dr. Robin Mitchell.
Known as the “Pacific Sprint Queen”, Wisil won the 100m, 200m and 400m races for an unparalleled third consecutive Pacific Games (2019, 2015 and 2011). She was also part of the gold medal winning 4x400m and silver medal winning 4x100m relay teams at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2015 Oceania Championships in Cairns, Queensland, respectively.
“There’s a sense of overwhelming pride to be recognised as the Best Female Athlete of the Pacific Games. I competed in my first Pacific Games in 2007, and to still represent Papua New Guinea and win at a high-level 12 years later is a privilege,” she said.
“I would like to thank ANOC for this award, and for bringing together so many inspiring people.”
The winners of each category were selected by an ANOC Jury, comprised of the President of each Continental Association, representatives from the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and representatives from the ANOC Athletes’ Commission.
Full list of winners:
Best Male and Female Athletes of Asian Games 2018
- Mrs Chen YILE, People’s Republic of China, Gymnastics (Female)
- Mr Ali AL-KHORAFI, Kuwait, Equestrian (Male)
Best Male and Female Athletes of European Games 2019
- Mrs Dina AVERINA, Russian Federation, Gymnastics (Female)
- Mr Mauro NESPOLI, Italy, Archery (Male)
Best Male and Female Athletes of African Games 2019
- Mrs Erin GALLAGHER, South Africa, Swimming (Female)
- Mr Sydney SIAME, Zambia, Athletics (Male)
Best Male and Female Athletes of Pan American Games 2019
- Mrs Mariana PAJÓN, Colombia, BMX (Female)
- Mr Julio César LA CRUZ, Cuba, Boxing (Male)
Best Male and Female Athletes of Pacific Games 2019
- Mrs Toea WISIL, Papua New Guinea, Athletics (Female)
- Mr Brandon SCHUSTER, Samoa, Swimming (Male)
ANOC Award for Outstanding Performance
- Mrs Katarina WITT, Germany, Figure Skating
ANOC Award for Outstanding Athlete
- Mr Yasuhiro YAMASHITA – Japan
ANOC Award for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement
- Mr Sam RAMSAMY – South Africa
ANOC Award for Contribution to the Olympic Movement
- H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa AL-THANI – Qatar
(Picture by ANOC)
About ANOC
The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) was established in June 1979 during the Constitutive General Assembly in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The organisation's purpose is to manage the general affairs of the National Olympic Committees, to give them their support, advice, cooperation and recommendations for their development.
About ANOC Awards
The ANOC Awards was created in order to recognise the achievements of the NOCs and their athletes as well as distinguished members of the Olympic Family. Held each year, the event is an opportunity for the world’s NOCs come together in a relaxed and entertaining environment and enjoy an evening celebrating sport.
The awards presented each year vary depending on the sporting events that have taken place that year and are decided by the ANOC jury.