Former Olympian Pat Scammell presented 30 students from Catholic Primary schools in the Archdiocese of Sydney with Sportsperson of the Year Awards in a special ceremony at Christian Brothers' High, Lewisham last night.

Pat, who represented Australia in athletics at the 1984 Los Angeles games in the 800m and 1500m and four years later at Seoul in the 1500m, congratulated the students on their achievements and told them how at their age if someone had told him he'd be representing Australia, "I'd tell them they would be wrong."

"Your talent might take you in another direction," he said.

A previous student of a regional Catholic school in Albury, (also run by the Christian Brothers), Pat says that qualifying for two Olympics, two World Championships and four Commonwealth games in Cross Country and Middle Di stance running were his biggest career highlights.

"I was so determined to win an Australian title because I always won Silver or Bronze," he told the students. "It took me 12 years to win Gold!"

Pat spoke to the students about persevering through setbacks, goal-setting and enjoyment of sport.

He told them how when he was younger he was a very poor speaker.

"But this made me determined to improve," he said. "One of the lessons I learned was to set a goal.

"If you persevere, you too can make a lot of head way and improvement. If you persevere, anything is possible!" he encouraged them.

Now in its eighth year, the annual Primary Sports Awards recognise outstanding young athletes in Catholic schools who have excelled in a number of sports during the school year.

Principals nominate the students, and a committee from the Sydney Archdiocesan Primary Sports Council determine the award recipients.

"As well as representing the Sydney Archdiocese in a NSW Catholic Primary Schools (NSWCPS) MacKillop team or NSW Primary Schools Sports Association (NSWPSSA) State team, the students have to demonstrate a high level of sporting achievement in their schools," Troy Moran , Archdiocesan Primary Sports Co-ordinator said.

"This year we had well over 100 nominations, and from those 30 students were selected for their great efforts."

Our Lady of Fatima , Caringbah primary had three students receiving medals at this year's awards ceremony. Some schools also had two students nominated for medallions.

Four staff members also received 2008 service awards for their contribution to developing sports in Catholic primary schools in the Archdiocese of Sydney.

Sarah Walsh, a year 6 student at St John Bosco primary, won this year's only Outstanding Achievement Award for representing three events in the State athletics.

Mr Moran described Sarah as, "a determined athlete and an inspiration for all to follow."

Sarah was born with a congenital birth defect, fibular hemimelia, whereby she had only one bone in her lower right leg and had to have it amputated.

"But if a fairy Godmother came down and said you can have one leg, I'd say no" Sarah said. "I like having one leg!"

Patricia Walsh, Sarah's mum, said Sarah was a quiet achiever, who let "all her legs do the talking!"

"She loves competing in all sports. This week she competed in the Rip Curl Girls Go Surfing Day, and she has been surfing with Di sabled Surfing Association for two years."

"Her dream is to one day compete in Paralympic Cycling," Mrs Walsh said.

In two weeks, Sarah will represent NSW at the Pacific School Games in Canberra in 100m, 200m, Shot Put and Long Jump.

2008 Primary Sports Awards Recipients:

• Jacinta Gatto, Good Shepherd, Hoxton Park
• Alysha Mathieson, Holy Spirit, North Ryde
• Madeline Woodley, John the Baptist, Bonnyrigg
• Brodie Mellor, Our Lady of Fatima, Caringbah
• Elyssa Pierce, Our Lady of Fatima, Caringbah
• Kealey Pennell, Our Lady of Fatima, Caringbah
• Hame Sele, Our Lady of Fatima, Kingsgrove
• Audrey Kyriacou, Our Lady of the Annunciation, Pagewood
• Alex Gersbach , Our Lady Star of the Sea, Miranda
• Gracia Cham, St Anne's, Strathfield South
• Monica Di mon, St Catherine Labouré, Gymea
• Clare Woods, St Christopher's, Panania
• Junior Tatola, St Joachim's, Lidcombe
• Sarah Walsh, St John Bosco, Engadine
• Pifeleti Pifeleti, St Joseph 's, Belmore
• Jack Hill, St Joseph 's, Como-Oyster Bay
• Emma Lawrance, St Luke's, Revesby
• Sophie Gleeson, St Luke's, Revesby
• Bernadette Flannery, St Mark's, Drummoyne
• Louise Poole, St Mark's, Drummoyne
• Jessica Thornton, St Mary St Joseph, Maroubra
• Sarah Healey, St Mary's, North Sydney
• Stephen Stelmach, St Mary's, Georges Hall
• Grace Robinson, St Mary's Star of the Sea, Hurstville
• Ben Alessio, St Mary's Star of the Sea, Hurstville
• Charbella Nandan, St Therese, Padstow
• Jodie Gifford, Villa Maria, Hunters Hill
• Danielle Armstrong - St Finbar's Sans Souci
• Ethan Packer - Holy Family Menai
• Luciano Leilua - St Francis Xavier Arncliffe

2008 Outstanding Achievement Award Recipient:

• Sarah Walsh, St John Bosco, Engadine

2008 Staff Service Awards Recipients:

• Deb Cummins, Our Lady of Fatima, Kingsgrove
• Michael Mulholland, St Christopher's, Panania
• Allison Bywaters, St Therese's, Denistone
• Ron Williams , Catholic Education Office, Sydney