A Dalby triathlete has been recognised for his stellar sport efforts in 2020, being rewarded with the Dalby and District Local Sportsperson of the Year.

The year 2020 had its obstacles for teenage running, swimming, and cycling star Mitch Hemmings with coronavirus heavily impacting on his sporting schedule.

Lockdowns in March and December prevented Mitch from competing at several races, but even with these cancellations, Mitch’s perseverance earned him a spot in the 2020-21 Queensland Triathlon team, an opportunity he won’t put to waste.

“My coach and I trained hard last year, and I’ve enjoyed every bit of racing we were able to do, travelling around the state to compete,” he said.

“It was a great experience being able to race against better competitors in Queensland, and it’ll serve me well in the future.”

His efforts in water polo and swimming didn’t go unnoticed, with Mitch walking away with multiple Darling Downs Regional Association sports awards for his tireless work in the pool.

Mitch spoke about accepting his award on January 26, saying he was “humbled” to be chosen by his region as the local sportsperson of the year.

“We really put a lot of work in during the pre season in particular, and we were able to improve all my weaknesses from last year, which included running off the bike, and getting my swimming back to where it was,” he said.

“It’s a big focus for this year too, but it was great to be recognised for all of the hard work we’ve put in.”