Rising Star Emma Putt Receives 2026 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Tier 3 Scholarship
Western Australia’s Emma Putt has been awarded a Sport Australia Hall of Fame’s 2026 Tier 3 Scholarship.
Her goals of donning the green and gold at the biggest sporting stage, Putt is appreciative of the opportunity the SAHOF scholarship will provide for her young career.
“It means so much to be a SAHOF Scholarship recipient. To be recognised with other up and coming aspiring athletes from across Australia and to be given this support is amazing.”
A total of 32 athletes from 32 different sports will share $150,000 in funding, spread across three tiers. Beyond support from the Hall of Fame and its celebrated membership, Tier 3 athletes receive $2,500 each. All scholarship recipients also receive merchandise from the Sport Australia Hall of Fame partners, BLACKROLL and Grip Star Socks.
Emma started out in Triton Water Polo Club’s ‘flippaball’ program at 10 years old alongside her two older brothers. Emma grew up playing a number of sports, and continued to play netball at state level up until recently when she decided to focus solely on waterpolo.
Emma is a member of the Australian “Aussie Stingers” squad and is set to complete her physiotherapy degree at the end of 2025.
In 2026, she will relocate from Perth to Sydney to play Australian Waterpolo League with the Cronulla Sharks while also pursuing her career in physiotherapy and aspirations to play at the Olympic Games.
Sport Australia Hall of Fame Chair and legend of Australian Sport, John Bertrand AO, said:
“We are proud to welcome the next generation of elite junior athletes into our 2026 Scholarship & Mentoring Program. This initiative is a place where talent meets opportunity and dreams are fuelled by the guidance and support of some of Australia's GREATEST sporting stars.
“We look forward to supporting these 32 young athletes to grow, learn and take their sporting journeys to new heights.”
The Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship & Mentoring Program, established in 2006, has supported over 267 young athletes in 58 sports.The program connects scholarship holders with SAHOF Members, providing life-changing personal development, work-life balance guidance and media training. Expanded in 2020 to a three-tiered structure, the program now ensures even greater opportunities for Australia’s emerging sporting talent.
