From AFL and horse racing to the Commonwealth Games and Olympics, his unmistakable voice has accompanied Australia’s greatest sporting moments for nearly fifty years.
Now Bruce McAvaney OAM has himself been recognised for excellence by arguably his greatest sporting love, athletics, receiving the prestigious President’s Award at the 2025 World Athletics Awards in Monaco.
The 72-year-old broadcaster was announced as the winner by World Athletics President Sebastian Coe who described McAvaney as ‘one of very few people who can say they achieved the dream they had at the age of five’.
“Athletics has been the central thread of my career at Seven and is a sport I hold incredibly close to my heart,” McAvaney told his long-time employer Seven West Media upon receiving the award.
“To be honoured in this way, and by someone I have such enormous admiration for in Sebastian Coe, is truly one of the highlights of my career.
“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work across many major events and sports, but nothing compares to athletics at the highest level.
“The opportunity to call those defining, once-in-a-lifetime moments – from Cathy’s unforgettable race at Sydney 2000, to Ollie Hoare’s brilliance in Birmingham, and everything still to come at Glasgow in 2026 – those moments are what fuel my passion and make my job as a broadcaster so special.”
It was a huge night for Australians in Monaco with reigning World Champion high jumper Nicola Olyslagers also recognised as Female Field Athlete of the Year for 2025.
Female Field Athlete of the Year Winner 🏆
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) November 30, 2025
🇦🇺’s Nicola Olyslagers is your Female Field Athlete of the Year 🤩#AthleticsAwards pic.twitter.com/h53nR9mk3D
President’s Award Winner 🏆
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) November 30, 2025
Bruce McAvaney is your President’s Award of the Year winner 🤩
The President’s Award, first awarded in 2016, recognises and honours exceptional service to athletics.#AthleticsAwards pic.twitter.com/MMT5TxPQ58