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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 2025 Alumni Awards, nominees must meet the following selection criteria:
- Nominees must have completed their degree requirements or conferred/graduated in 2024 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.
2024 winner
Mackenzie Little
Doctor of Medicine '23
Mackenzie Little is an Olympic javelin thrower and Junior Medical Officer at the Northern Sydney Local Health District.
Alongside the demands of her medical degree, Mackenzie is an accomplished athlete. She was the 2013 World Youth Champion, a World Uni Games finalist in 2015 and 2017, NCAA Champion in 2018 and 2019, and won Diamond League Meetings in Lausanne and London in 2023 and 2024 respectively. She placed eighth at the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games, fifth at the World Championships in 2022, second at the Commonwealth Games in 2022, and third at the World Championships in 2023. Most recently, she was an Olympic Finalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Since returning from Paris, she has returned to her work at the Royal North Shore Hospital.
A piece of advice that I'd give to my younger self would be to stay open to opportunities, and to be hardworking and grateful in all your endeavours. Within sport, this was important because it allowed me to find my niche event of the javelin throw, but furthermore I'm confident that I'm a better athlete because of skills I picked up from a variety of sports and activities growing up. I think that late specialisation and sport participation for mental/social/emotional health as well as physical health is really important. This extends to music, academics and all other extracurriculars which I feel can all contribute to building resilience and experience as you're able to lean on all these various pillars of your identity.
Graduation day in December 2023 was one of the most joyous occasions of my time at the University of Sydney. Standing in the Quad in our caps and gowns smiling with my friends after being awarded our Doctor of Medicine was something truly special. Every time I get to spend time with my phenomenally smart, hardworking, and kind classmates (and now fellow doctors), I'm so grateful to have met them in those early tutorials.
I'm planning to continue working and training hard in the lead up to the Paris Olympics, at which I hope to throw a personal best in the final and to give myself the best chance for a medal! Then, I'll try to settle back into work and life, perhaps setting some more time aside to prepare for surgical specialty training applications. These first few years of work as a doctor teach you so much and I already feel transformed from the person I was before. I'm hoping to spend lots of time with family and friends to make up for a busy year and to continue gaining so much energy and fulfilment from work.
Stay open to opportunities, and to be hardworking and grateful in all your endeavours.
Mackenzie Little
Rohan Browning
Bachelor of Arts '20, Bachelor of Laws '24
Rohan Browning is an Olympic sprinter, Australia’s second fastest man of all time over 100m and two-time national champion.
At Tokyo 2021 he became the first Australian man in 17 years to qualify for the 100m at the Olympic Games. Rohan’s 100m semi-final was the most watched moment of those Games in Australia. In 2023 Rohan ran the fastest time in Australia in 23 years.
He recently competed at his second Olympic Games in Paris. He graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws.
Be patient, the learning process takes time and everyone is on their own path.
Just generally meeting really interesting people across a range of fields. Sport can have a narrowing effect and University is about opening your mind up.
In sport, it’s to break the Australian 100m record. Beyond sport, I’d like to work in a competitive environment, solve complex tasks and work alongside inspiring people.
Be patient, the learning process takes time and everyone is on their own path.
Rohan Browning
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.