Albany Sportsperson of the Year: Young athletics star Demi Burns secures junior title after superb nationals

Athletics young gun Demi Burns clinched the Retravision Albany Junior Sportsperson of the Year award after a stellar season on the track at the 2023 Australian Junior Track and Field Championships. Burns earned her nomination in April after finishing in the top eight of the 400m and fifth in the 200m while claiming gold to be crowned WA champion in the 400m earlier in the year. In 2023 Burns also won a bronze medal at the State championships and was a member of the Associated and Catholic Colleges dream team, which only three Great Southern athletes in the past 50 years have achieved. She surpassed a stacked field of budding sports stars including WA Country basketballer Billy McRae, WA Gravity Enduro State Series winner Abbey O’Donnell and WA hockey players Zoe Mills and Evie Famlonga to secure the trophy. The 15-year-old said the victory was a great reward for effort, particularly in a tumultuous past 12 months. “It’s a great honour and I was very surprised to get it, but it was definitely nice to be recognised,” Burns said. “I think everyone loves being recognised for all the hard work they do and all the hard work they put into their sport. “It’s been a crazy, hectic year with the highs of going to nationals and the lows because I was injured for about four months. “I’m just getting back into running again and I’m hoping to bring back my confidence.” Burns paid a touching and emotional tribute to her late coach Basil Worner when accepting her award on February 15, expressing deep gratitude for his unwavering guidance and support through her training. “He taught me so much that as I go higher up, and I listened to all the coaches, they say the exact same thing he did,” she said. “But also like, emotionally and mentally. I was a very timid kid when I was younger, I was very scared, very shy but he’s helped turn me into a confident person. “He’s taught me it’s not just about sport, it’s about how you carry yourself and how you lose and how you win. “He was a very special person in my life.” Track and field Olympian Nina Kennedy, who attended the awards ceremony, said Burns showed maturity beyond her years during her acceptance speech. “Demi (Burns) shocked me with how amazingly she spoke and just her vulnerability about her coach Basil and how he taught her,” Kennedy said. “She is at a national level now and I really hope she goes really far, it’s amazing to see.” Now living in Perth, Burns is still linked with Albany Little Athletics Club but is eyeing a new season with Perth-based UWA Athletics Club. “Albany Little Athletics Club will always have a place in my heart and I will always thank them for getting me into athletics,” Burns said. “They’re such a supportive group of people and provide such a positive environment. “I’m still under Albany at the moment but next year I will be going for UWA. “This year is not about results for me. This year is about getting back to athletics and really finding a new place for myself in Perth.” The rising star will compete at the 2024 WA State Track & Field Championships powered by Go For 2&5 this weekend at WA Athletics Stadium.