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Kate is passionate about contributing to public debate on a wide range of important issues. Here are some of the issues she has touched on in the past.
- Should successful athletes have to pay back the AIS 10 Jun 2009
- Let's give youth voice now for a better future 12 Oct 2008
- Organ donation it's the greatest gift of all 21 Sep 2008
- Is safe sex message falling on deaf ears 31 Aug 2008
- Grassroots funding is key to Olympic glorys 10 Aug 2008
- Easy to overlook big issue of homelessness 20 Jul 2008
- Trailblazer Natasha leaves lasting legacy 29 Jun 2008
- Heavy hitters boost our World Cup hopes 01 Jun 2008
- Youth Forum Discussion Paper 17 May 2008
- We can't take sport for granted 11 May 2008
- Women truly can do anything be anything 20 Apr 2008
- Let the Games begin with all our athletes 30 Mar 2008
- Proud past but future a challenge for women 09 Mar 2008
- Young people will be heard at highest level 17 Feb 2008
- Our nation has changed dramatically in three weeks 16 Dec 2007
- Mobile Phone Towers 23 Sep 2007
- Bradken Foundry 01 Jul 2007
- Full Fees 03 Jun 2007
- Eating Disorders 17 Dec 2006
- Iraq 27 Jul 2006
- Electoral Laws 26 Jun 2006
- Dental 08 Jan 2006
- Make Poverty History 18 Sep 2005
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Media Releases
2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 200815 Feb 2010 - Begg-Smith Becomes Our Most Successful Winter Olympian
Monday, 15 February 2010
Begg-Smith becomes our most successful Winter Olympian
The Minister for Sport Kate Ellis today congratulated freestyle skier Dale Begg-Smith on winning Australia's first medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Dale Begg-Smith took out the silver medal in the men's moguls, with a tight battle seeing Canada's Alexandre Bilodeau scraping in by 0.17 of a point.
"It's a double celebration for Dale today. By adding this silver to his gold in the same event in 2006, he becomes Australia's most successful Winter Olympian," Ms Ellis said.
"Dale has had his dream come true today, but he's also fulfilled the aspirations of a proud sporting nation," she said.
"Dale's achievement is all the more amazing considering his Olympic campaign was threatened when he suffered a serious knee injury at a World Cup event last year.
"Dale Begg-Smith hails from the Australian Institute of Sport and we today thank that great sporting institution for its investment in the nation's latest Olympic star."
The Australian Government is helping our winter athletes reach their goals through the Australian Sports Commission. About $7.6 million has been provided since 2006-07 to support sports on the Winter Games 2010 program.
This funding has helped 21 Australian Institute of Sport athletes gain a place in the Australian Winter Olympic Team. This represents more than half the team.
Dale Begg-Smith's silver medal is the seventh medal won by Australia in Winter Olympic history and marks the fifth successive Olympic Games in which Australia has won a medal.
In defeating Begg-Smith to win gold, Canadian Alexandre Bilodeau broke the drought for the host nation by becoming the first gold medallist on home soil in either summer or winter Olympic Games.
Press Secretary: Jayne Stinson 0458 547 512 jayne.stinson@deewr.gov.au