An unforgettable 2024
What a year 2024 has been for us here at Aussie Athlete Fund! As we approach the end of the year, we want to extend a huge thank you to our athletes, their families, our partners and supporters.
We’ve had so much fun this year and can’t wait to do it again in 2025. But before we look ahead, let’s take a moment to reflect on what we’ve achieved together in 2024.
Supported 100 athletes across 40 sports (47 disciplines)
This year, we were incredibly proud to support a diverse group of talented elite athletes across a wide range of sports – from diving, triathlon, volleyball, squash, gymnastics and water polo to breakdancing, BMX, bobsleigh, sailing, taekwondo, judo, karate and more.
Our athletes competed all around the world this year, representing Australia on the world stage and truly showcasing their dedication and skill.
Launched our inaugural $1M Challenge powered by Ampol
One of the year’s most exciting highlights was the successful launch and rollout of our first-ever $1M Challenge, powered by Ampol. This challenge has been a game-changer for our athletes, not only helping them to raise crucial funds but also equipping them with fundraising tools, business connections and mentorship.
Through the $1M Challenge, we connected 43 athletes with 34 businesses. All 100 athletes, partnered with a business or not, took their fundraising journey to whole new heights raising over $550,000 . The funds were directly allocated to the athletes to support training, travel and competition expenses, easing the financial burden these athletes face. We were thrilled to play a part in enabling athletes to compete at the highest level, with some even heading to the Paris 2024 Games thanks to the support they received.
This year’s standout fundraiser was Josh Bell, who raised an incredible $25,964.76 - a testament to his hard work and dedication.
He said: “AAF gave me the platform and the push I needed to go from hoping I had achieved my outcomes to holding myself accountable and only giving myself one option of making it all come together.”
Another exceptional fundraising effort came from Josh Wood, our 17-year-old blind golfer, who was awarded our Most Innovative Fundraiser. Partnering with Westminster National, Josh raised over $20,000.
“This was the first time I had ever initiated a fundraising campaign, so I started with zero dollars in my ASF page at the beginning,” he said.
“I am still humbled by all the support and I have learnt so much. It really did make such a huge difference being partnered with Michael, who has become a friend through this whole process and am pleased to say that I now have over $20,000 in my Australian Sports Foundation page.”
20 AAF-supported athletes competed in Paris 2024
Another major milestone this year was cheering on 20 AAF-supported athletes who competed in the Paris 2024 Games. These athletes not only demonstrated their dedication, commitment and talent but also embodied the Aussie spirit, both on and off the field, court, and pool. Their hard work paid off with outstanding results – bringing home three silver medals and two bronze medals.
Among these athletes was Olympian Keesja Gofers, who earned a silver medal with the Australian women’s water polo team, The Stingers.
“The AAF challenge is an awesome initiative and I’m so grateful to be a part of it,” she said.
“Winning the silver medal with my family looking on was just an incredible feeling – there is nothing else like it and I’m so proud of the team and what we have achieved."
Our founder Nat Cook recognised as one of Queensland’s Greats
We were also thrilled to see our founder, Nat Cook OAM OLY, honoured as one of Queensland’s Greats. Nat’s exceptional achievements as an athlete, combined with her unwavering advocacy for athletes across the country, earned her the prestigious individual award at the 2024 Queensland Greats Awards.
Nat’s commitment to supporting athletes, both on and off the field, has shaped the foundation of AAF, and this recognition is a testament to her legacy, not only as an athlete but also as a mentor, advocate and a leader who has made an incredible mark on Australian sport.
Released nine new podcast episodes
In 2024, we continued to share the real, raw and inspiring stories of our athletes through The Price You Pay podcast. These episodes delve deep into the sacrifices, challenges and triumphs our athletes face in pursuit of their dreams.
We were honoured to feature incredible athletes including trampolinist Hudson Brown, taekwondo champion Stacey Hymer, archer Kim Lavander, young diver Mila Klyne, triathlete Jack Howell, cyclist Molly McGill and rower Chad Willet.
We invite you to listen and be inspired by their stories here.
We couldn’t have done it without you!
As we close out this year, we’re more committed than ever to supporting athletes. In 2025, we aim to support even more athletes across more sports, helping them to achieve their dreams at the highest level.
Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this year!
Aussie Athlete Fund is all about breaking down the barriers faced by our emerging elite athletes by providing access to funding, fundraising education and mentoring support – easing the burden an athlete faces once selected to represent Australia.
Join us in our mission to turn Green into Gold and create a sustainable athlete economy. Follow along on our socials or make a tax-deductible donation here.