The Sport Australia Hall of Fame (SAHOF) today announced that Australian Sailing Squad member Zac Littlewood has been included as a Tier 1 Recipient of their Scholarship and Mentoring Program.

The program will provide Zac and five other Tier 1 Scholarship holders with unrivalled mentoring access and support from six of Australia’s most successful sporting greats, who will volunteer their time over 14 months. 

At 20 years of age, Western Australian Zac Littlewood is the current World Under 21 Sailing Champion in the Laser Radial class, following the recent championships in Poland. 

Zac is thrilled to receive the opportunity to be mentored by Olympic pole vault gold medalist Steve Hooker OAM. “Having access to Steve Hooker who has reached the pinnacle of his sport is exciting and I look forward to learning as much as I can from his experience as well as his feedback on what I can do better as an athlete on and off the water”

The nation’s leading sports scholarship program, which is supported by Sport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport, awards 32 scholarships and $150,000 in funding to future stars to support them in their quest for excellence and success on the world stage.

Seven-time world champion and dual Olympian within sailing, Malcolm Page OAM is amongst the line up of Sport Australia Hall of Fame Members whom will be mentors for the program. Page will mentor Australia’s No. 1 Senior Wakeboarder, Mikayo Mundy. Other mentors include three-time Olympic champion Dawn Fraser AC MBE, three-time Olympic swimming champion Stephanie Rice OAM, Olympic diving gold medallist Matthew Mitcham OAM, and Wallaby legend John Eales AM.

Since the program’s inception in 2006, SAHOF has supported 141 athletes through the unique Scholarship and Mentoring Program. Zac is the sixth sailor to be included in the program since it commenced. Past sailors include Olympians Nia Jerwood and Olivia Price.

Australian Sailing’s Chief Executive Officer Ben Houston congratulated Zac on his acknowledgement as a Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship recipient. “Zac’s recent win at the ILCA Under 23 World Championships in Poland is evidence of his hard work and talent and I know that he will take full advantage of the opportunity to work with Steve Hooker. 

“I would like to thank Steve for mentoring Zac and for his commitment to supporting emerging Australian sporting talent. I want to acknowledge and thank gold medal winning Olympic sailor Malcolm Page OAM, who will act as mentor and share valuable insights with Mikayo [Mundy]. We would like to thank the SAHOF for providing this opportunity to Zac and the other Australian emerging sporting champions.”

Minister for Sport, Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck said the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program is a fantastic example of how our sporting heroes can inspire future champions. “Their active sporting careers may be over but their active contribution continues through the support and advice they will provide to these young athletes which will be life changing.”

Sport Australia Chair, Josephine Sukkar AM said The Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program showed the power of sport to unite, inspire and build stronger communities.

"I’m delighted to see the program offer so many scholarships, providing opportunities for even more young athletes from across Australia to further their careers. The opportunity for scholarship recipients to be paired with mentors like these is priceless, and will help these young athletes reach their potential in not only their chosen sport, but life more broadly. To be mentored by some of Australian sport’s most iconic names will have an immeasurable impact on the next generation, particularly as we look ahead to a home Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane in 2032.”