Lauren Tomasi travelled to Sydney’s Olympic Park last week to take part in the prestigious Pierre de Coubertin Awards. The annual awards are named after the founder of the modern Olympic Games and recognise senior secondary students who demonstrate values which are consistent with the Olympic movement through participation in sporting activities.

The awards are run by the State Olympic Council on behalf of the Australian Olympic Committee. Attendees also had the opportunity to meet former and current Olympians, who spoke to the Academy on the challenges they had faced in their chosen sporting careers.

The year 11 Snowy Mountains Grammar School (SMGS) student has built a reputation for herself as an elite equestrienne yet this honour was based on her all round sporting ability. Lauren was nominated by her school to take part in the gruelling qualification process for the award. She was required to submit an original artwork and a comprehensive piece of literature that captured the spirit of the Olympic movement. She also attended the all day Academy where candidates worked together in groups and were assessed by the Council to select representatives to attend the International Pierre de Coubertin Youth Forum.

The Forum is held every two years with the next happening in September this year in Olympia, the home of the Olympic games, in Greece. Only eight Australian students from more than 700 award recipients are selected to attend.

Lauren found out on Friday that she has been “short listed” to the final 30 candidates to be selected for the NSW contingent. She was also thrilled to see that her artwork was selected to be displayed at the Academy. Lauren created a collage which featured photographs of her horse, Royal Monet and her ski racing and athletic achievements.

“It was such an honour to be selected for the award but an even greater one to reach the final 30,” Lauren said.

All secondary schools in Australia are invited to nominate one recipient for the Pierre de Coubertin Award each year from year 10, 11 or 12. Each nominee must participate actively in the school’s physical education program with a consistently positive attitude. At some stage during years eight to 12 the nominee must have represented the school in either swimming, athletics or cross country and at least two other competitive sports.