Canberra
Gold medal Paralympic swimmer Jacqueline Freney has tonight been awarded the Prime Minister's Women in Sport Award.
Ms Freney is one of Australia's most successful Paralympians. She won eight gold medals at the London Paralympics - one for every event in which she competed. Two of the eight gold were won in world record time.
Minister for Sport Kate Lundy tonight presented Ms Freney with her award at the Australian Women's Health I Support Women in Sport Awards.
The award was reinstated by the Gillard Government earlier this year, making Ms Freney the first recipient since 1996.
The Awards recognise the achievements of Australian sportswomen in all levels of sport from the grass-roots through to high performance. They celebrate female athletes from all fields and aim to encourage more women to participate in sport.
The Gillard Government is a proud supporter for the Awards and has committed to funding theAustralian Women's Health I Support Women in Sport campaign and awards night through to 2013.
Australia's female athletes performed exceptionally well at both the Olympics and the Paralympics this year, making their nation proud.
The Gillard Government wants to ensure their achievements continue to receive the exposure they deserve.