Tom Slingsby named as a finalist for 'The Don' Award

3:15 PM Wed 10 Oct 2012 GMT

'Tom Slingsby (AUS) who won the Gold Medal on 06.08.12, in the Medal Race Men's One Person Dinghy (Laser) event in The London 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition.' onEdition &copy

London 2012 Olympic Games gold medallist Tom Slingsby has been selected as a finalist for 'The Don' Award, to be announced on Thursday night in Melbourne. The Award will be presented at the 2012 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Annual Induction and Awards Gala Dinner with Slingsby a finalist alongside Sally Pearson, Anna Meares, Stephanie Gilmore, Jessica Fox and Jacqueline Freney.

While the winner will be decided by the nomination panel sports fans have the chance to say who they would like to see win through an online poll.

The poll can be found on the Herald Sun website here and Yachting Australia is asking the Australian sailing community to get behind Slingsby and vote for him.

In 1998 The Sport Australia Hall of Fame created 'The Don' Award, named after Sir Donald Bradman, to honour a current Australian athlete who, by their achievements and example over the last 12 months, is considered to have had the capacity to most inspire the nation.

Slingsby, who in the last year won Olympic gold and two Laser World Championships, unfortunately won't be in Melbourne for the dinner as he is currently in San Francisco campaigning with Oracle Team USA for the 34th America's Cup.

While Slingsby won't be in attendance sailing will still feature on the evening. London 2012 silver medallist Olivia Price will receive a Sport Australia Hall of Fame scholarship and gold medallists Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page are attending as guests.

For more information on the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, click here and to vote for Tom Slingsby in the online poll, click here .

by Yachting Australia