Bachelor of Commerce student Kyle Lee was named a finalist for Sports Star of the Year at the WA Sport Awards, held on Thursday 26 February at Crown Perth.
The WA Sports Star of the Year recognises excellence in sport and celebrates the achievements of Western Australia’s leading athletes. The Olympian and World Relay Champion recently delivered another standout performance, claiming three gold medals at the 2026 Australian Open Water Championships.
Lee secured victories in the 10km and 5km events and was also part of the winning 4x1.5km freestyle relay team, completing a clean sweep of titles in his hometown of Bunbury.
“I was very happy with the results,” Lee said.
“Going into the competition the main goal was to finish in the top four in the 10km event, which formed part of the selection process for funding to compete at the World Cups later this year.
“To come away with three gold medals, which I couldn’t have done without my teammates in the relay, was the cherry on the cake.”
Competing on home waters made the experience particularly meaningful.
“I got to spend a lot of time with friends and family that I hadn’t seen in a while, which was very special,” he said.
Balancing elite sport with university study requires discipline, with Lee completing nine swimming sessions and two gym sessions each week alongside his academic commitments.
Currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce at UWA, Lee credits the UWA Student Athlete Development Program with helping him manage both his sporting and academic pursuits.
"It is very important to have a study schedule that optimises time for training and study. There are times when competitions and assessments clash, and the Student Athlete Development Program has helped me through those moments."
Kyle Lee, UWA Student Athlete
Looking ahead, Lee will compete in a series of Open Water World Cup events across Egypt, Italy, Spain and Portugal, with several races serving as selection opportunities for the Australian team ahead of the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in California.