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The Nigel C Barker Medal for Sporting Achievement
Sporting achievement
This medal recognises excellence, outstanding leadership and vision in sports at the University.
To be eligible for the 2024 Alumni Awards, nominees must meet the following selection criteria:
- Nominees must have completed their degree requirements or conferred/graduated in 2023 from the University of Sydney.
- Nominees must have achieved a minimum credit average (65-74 mark range) during their award course at the University (any qualifications with pass/fail criteria excepted).
- Nominees must demonstrate excellence, outstanding leadership or vision in sports at the University.
2023 winner
Carmen Ewa Marton
Master of Business Administration '22
Carmen Ewa Marton’s career is the stuff of sporting legend. She is Australia’s first ever World Taekwondo Champion, represented Australia at three Olympic Games and is Australia’s most decorated Taekwondo athlete. While undertaking her Master of Business Administration, she was involved in the university’s Elite Athlete Program which propelled Carmen to become Australia’s highest ranked female player in the World, while achieving gold in both the 2019 Pacific Games and Oceania Championships.
Carmen’s studies have helped her develop a clearly articulated strategy to drive the change needed to lift high performance athletic programs in Australia and she was recently awarded the Performance Pathway Lead position for National Sporting Organisation, Australian Taekwondo. This marks the first time a woman has held this position in the Taekwondo Combat Sports Program. If that wasn’t a challenge enough, she is also exploring a career as an actor and stuntwoman. Carmen is a passionate advocate for athletes and women in sport, and we anticipate great strides in the sporting world with her leadership.
About Nigel C Barker
Nigel Chase Barker (BE 1909) was an outstanding all-round athlete and sportsman. He represented the University and New South Wales on a number of occasions.
Nigel competed in the 1906 Intercalated/Interim Olympic Games in Athens where he was the most successful Australian, winning bronze medals in both the 100m and 400m races. Although the International Olympic Committee subsequently decided not to recognise the 1906 games in Athens as an official Summer Games, Nigel is arguably the University’s first Olympian.
