Aquatics GB enjoyed a hugely successful night at the annual UK Sport PLx Awards on Tuesday, with our staff and teams involved across three award wins as the Olympic and Paralympic high-performance community came together to celebrate the incredible contributions of individuals, groups and sportspeople in 2024.
Dawn Peart was recognised for her impact on and contribution to the successes of the Olympic swimming community over the past 15 years as she picked up the Support Staff Award. As Aquatics GB's senior Team Manager during that time - with Paris 2024 her fifth Olympic Games in that role - and overseeing vital logistical leadership, Dawn has consistently delivered support, encouragement and structure for multiple generations of athletes, helping strengthen their platform for success on the global stage.
Speaking about the recognition, Dawn said: "Paris was my fifth Olympic Games, and I wouldn't have been able to do that without the support of all the volunteer team managers who work across aquatics, service diving, para swimming, open water swimming, and all the pathway events that we've run during the year.
"This is a very special moment, and I would like to thank UK Sport for having this award as a category. To my colleagues who I've worked with over the last 30 years in the sport, those who work in all of those sports, behind, alongside and in front of the teams, because, without that support, the teams probably wouldn't have achieved it without them. A big shout-out to all of you who are working behind the scenes. It's all about collaboration. It's not just one person."
There was success, too, for the Aquatics GB staff who collaborated closely with the UKSI (UK Sports Institute) and our world-class divers on the Olympic diving suit and trunk project - a project that was recognised by winning this year's Innovation Award, with the divers themselves feeling the work had truly enhanced their performances in Paris.
Aquatics GB Head of Innovation, Biomechanics and Performance Analysis Olly Logan said: "Paris was the best ever diving performance! When working on this project, we were conscious that suits shouldn't be a distraction. It was about tackling comfort and fit issues, and the project was really impactful from the athletes' input. We wanted them to feel pride and comfort in their garments. We were in a situation where we produced bespoke fits for the athletes. They kept coming back to us to say we looked the best at the Games, which was brilliant for their confidence when performing."
Meanwhile, Performance Analyst and Biomechanist Emma Mosscrop's work extended beyond Aquatics GB disciplines in 2024, as she contributed to the team that helped triathlete Alex Yee produce a stunning performance in Paris to become Olympic champion, with focus on the swimming element of the discipline. The British Triathlon team that included Emma in its work won the Collaboration and Teamwork Award, with Yee's coach Adam Elliot adding afterwards: "Part of the strength of this team is knowing what we don't know as well as what we do know, and being able to ask who can do this better than we can, and then finding those people. It was great to have been able to pull in those from across the system, like Emma from Aquatics GB and the brilliant swimming coach of Phil Clayton."
For more information on the winners at this year's PLx Awards, visit the UK Sport website.