Byron Bay adaptive surfer, Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart, has been inducted into the NSW Hall of Champions, joining other athletes recognised for their legend status at the NSW Champions of Sport Ceremony at The Star Event Centre, Pyrmont, on Monday.
NSW Hall of Champions Committee Chair, Alan Whelpton AO, said Stewart was one of five new inductees to the Hall of Champions – the others being Graham Arnold (football), Mo’onia Gerrard OAM (netball), Naazmi Johnston (gymnastics), and Ricky Stuart AM (rugby league).
‘They have each reached the pinnacle in their chosen sport and paved the way for the next generation of athletes to aspire to reach greatness,’ he added.
Netball great Liz Ellis AO was recognised as a Legend of NSW Sport at the event.
Impressive medal tally
The media release reads, ‘As a teenager, Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart played football and was a star striker, representing northern NSW in the Tasman Cup’.
‘After a severe injury and Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) diagnosis, Mark lost his right leg at 15 years old. This did not dissuade him from his goals, and he went on to become one of the world’s first, and best, adaptive surfers.
‘Mono has won gold eight times in the Australian Adaptive Surfing Championships, from 2016-2025. He has an impressive medal tally of 33 gold, seven silver, and five bronze across a range of national and international competitions. He also has six World Titles across ISA and AASP Professional platforms.
‘He has won multiple competitions including the 2015 ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championships, the 2021 Australian Para Surfer of the Year Award, and the 2022 World Professional Adaptive Surfing Championships.
‘In 2021, Mono became the world’s oldest Para Surfing champion, winning the ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championships at Pismo Beach, California, at age 59. In 2023, he was the first adaptive surfer to get a perfect score with two 10-point rides in the Final of an International event. This is only the fourth time any surfer has achieved the feat’.
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