Main image: Kate Kyros and Chemistry at Olomouc CDI. Image by Wiktoria Rożnowska.
Australian dressage rider Kate Kyros has been awarded a Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship following a very successful year in the saddle.
“I am honoured to be a SAHOF Scholarship recipient. It is amazing to be recognised for my hard work and dedication as an equestrian athlete amongst so many other talented young sportspeople,” said Kate, who was the only equestrian athlete to be awarded a scholarship this year. “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities that SAHOF has opened for me and look forward to connecting with other like-minded athletes. Thanks to SAHOF, together as young athletes I am sure we can continue to build the future of Australia and its strong sporting culture on being selected as a 2025 Scholarship Holder.”
Kate riding Intro K at a CDI in Wellington, Florida. Image by Susan J Stickle Photography.
A successful year
Kate, 20, was based overseas for more than six months with stallions Chemistry and Intro K, contesting nine CDIs across North America and Europe with success in the CDI-Y and CDI-U25 classes. The trip culminated with Kate gaining an invitation to compete in the young rider classes (CDI-Y) with Intro K at the prestigious CHIO Aachen in Germany – the first Australian rider ever to do so.
You can read more about Kate’s trip aboard in the June 2024 issue of Equestrian Life here.
Just last weekend, Kate stepped up to the senior-level CDI Big Tour with Chemistry, taking a clean sweep of the CDI3* classes at the Brisbane CDI and being named CDI Grand Prix Champion.
Kate Kyros and Chemistry at the 2024 Brisbane CDI. Image by Derek O’Leary.
A unique and powerful program
The Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program provides invaluable financial and broader support, guidance and advice to outstanding young athletes aged 15-21 on their path to fulfilling their potential and achieving excellence on the global stage. A total of 32 athletes from 30 different sports will share $150,000 in funding, spread across three levels – Tier 1, 2 and 3. Kate was awarded a Tier 3 scholarship.
“The Scholarship and Mentoring Program is a unique and powerful program giving our young emerging champions the once in a lifetime opportunity to have direct access to Australia’s sporting greats,” said Sport Australia Hall of Fame Chair and legend of Australian Sport, John Bertrand AO. “We welcome all 32 scholarship recipients representing 30 sports into the 2025 program.”
Australian Sports Commission Chair Kate Jenkins AO congratulated the 2025 scholarship recipients.
“The ASC is proud to support this program that helps athletes to reach their full potential and to bring out the best in everyone involved in sport. I wish the latest scholarship recipients every success and hope this extra financial support helps bring them a step closer to reaching their sporting goals.”
The Sport Australia Hall of Fame’s Scholarship and Mentoring Program has benefited 236 athletes in 56 sports. The program has been supported by 103 Mentors and has distributed more than $1 million in funding.
You can find out more about the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program here.
