Legendary sports broadcaster Bruce McAvaney OAM has been recognised with the prestigious World Athletics President’s Award.
The accolade celebrates for McAvaney’s lifelong support and contributions to athletics broadcasting.
The Award was presented on Sunday night in Monaco by British Olympian and former UK politician Sebastian Coe.
The World Athletics President’s Award – which was first bestowed in 2016 – is given to those who have made significant contributions to the sport and is one of the highest honours in world sport.
The most recognised, respected and loved sport commentator in Australia, McAvaney started his television career at 7NEWS in Adelaide in 1978 and went on to present many high-profile sports throughout his career, including AFL, horse racing, motor racing, tennis, golf and Olympic and Commonwealth Games – but none is dearer to his heart than athletics.
The legendary broadcaster is synonymous with major sporting events, including the AFL Grand Final, Melbourne Cup, Australian Open tennis, Test cricket and the Summer Olympic Games, covering every Olympiad from Moscow 1980 through to Paris 2024, with the exception of the 2012 Games.
Seven West Media Chairman, Kerry Stokes AC, said: “I have known Bruce for three decades and love the guy. He is synonymous with athletics and many other sports, and I am very proud of his huge contribution to Seven Sport’s success.
“Bruce has a unique and very warm connection with both athletics and the public, and I congratulate him on receiving this honour. Everyone at Seven is very proud of Bruce and his achievements,” he said.
Australian Sport Hall of Fame Legend and five-time Olympic Medal winner, Catherine Freeman OAM, added: “Bruce McAvaney is a gift to us all. His voice, his charisma and his ability to tell athlete’s stories while taking sports fans along for the ride, is an experience for us all to behold.
“Bruce continues to connect sports lovers through his passion, professionalism and his infectious love for life that has shone the whole way through his broadcasting career.
“Congratulations Bruce McAvaney on your World Athletics President’s Award, a truly well-earned honour.”
McAvaney said of the recognition: “Athletics has been the central thread of my career at Seven and is a sport I hold incredibly close to my heart.
“To be honoured in this way, and by someone I have such enormous admiration for in Sebastian Coe, is truly one of the highlights of my career.
“The timing makes it feel especially meaningful. I genuinely believe Australian athletics is entering a revitalised golden era, and with the renewed focus on the sport right now, this recognition carries even greater significance for me,” he said.
“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work across many major events and sports, but nothing compares to athletics at the highest level.
“The opportunity to call those defining, once-in-a-lifetime moments, from Cathy’s unforgettable race at Sydney 2000, to Ollie Hoare’s brilliance in Birmingham, and everything still to come at Glasgow in 2026 – those moments are what fuel my passion and make my job as a broadcaster so special.”