Alex was announced as the 60^th winner at the Taree Australia Day function held at Queen Elizabeth Park. She was presented with her trophy by champion squash player Kasey Brown, who was the Taree Australia Day ambassador. Kasey was the 40^th winner of the sportstar of the year.

Alex, 15, joins Nick Gates on the list of the sportstar winners. Gates was named sportstar of the year in 1996 when he won the Australian road championship and the Commonwealth Bank Classic.

Despite a sporting year truncated by the pandemic, Alex was selected in the NSW under 17 women's team. She was the youngest member of the squad.

The team was named following the State time trial, road race and criterium championships. She finished third in the road race, which she said is by far her strongest discipline.

Alex, a member of Manning Valley Cycle Club, was later named in a NSW Institute of Sport talent program aimed at selected the Australian under 19 team for the world championships to be held in Wollongong in 2022.

Alex said the only downside to her sporting year was the fact the Australian championships were cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. NSW were expected to dominate the titles.

While the pandemic disrupted the competition year, Alex explained that unlike many athletes, she was able to train during the lockdown. Alex trained five or six days a week, clocking up to 300km a week.

She had set her sights on making the State side at the start of the year, but feared she wouldn't get the opportunity because of pandemic.

She will start training with the NSW Institute squad this year, where she'll work with some of Australia's leading coaches.

Ultimately she hopes to make a career out of the sport by riding professionally in Europe.

Alex said she was 'shocked' when was was announced the sportstar of the year and she thanks her parents, Tanya and Michael, for their support.

"They're unbelievable,'' she said.