A Special Honour from Maribyrnong sports Academy

Some awards recognise what you've achieved. Others remind you of how far you've come. Receiving the Maribyrnong Sports Academy Athlete of the Decade Award for Tennis was a bit of both for Jin Woodman.

The award recognises the highest-achieving athlete within each sport across the past decade, particularly those who have progressed to compete at the highest levels nationally and internationally. At 17, Jin has already packed in some remarkable experiences through tennis — competing at Grand Slams, representing Australia and playing against some of the best quad wheelchair players in the world. But this award felt different. It wasn't just about what he's achieved on court; it was about the journey that got him there and the people who have been part of it.

Back to Year 7

Jin joined Maribyrnong Sports Academy in Year 7, at just 13 years old, becoming the first athlete with a disability to be part of the tennis program. At the time, the significance of that didn't register much — he simply wanted to play tennis, improve, and be around other athletes working toward their own goals.

Looking back now, it's a step he's proud to have taken. Over the years, MSA has supported his tennis career as it grew from junior competition into international senior wheelchair tennis, and while balancing school with training, travelling and competing internationally hasn't always been easy, the Academy's support has made a real difference.

A huge few years

A great deal has changed since Jin joined MSA. He has gone from competing primarily in junior events to playing at Grand Slams and establishing himself among the world's leading quad wheelchair players. In 2026 alone, he reached Grand Slam doubles finals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, won his first professional grass-court title in Eastbourne, and reached the final of the WC1000 in Roehampton — adding wins over world No.1 Niels Vink and multiple Grand Slam champion Sam Schröder along the way. It's been an extraordinary year, but one built on the years of training and development that came before it.

More than tennis

Part of what makes MSA special is that it's never been just about results. School, friendships, teammates, coaches and the wider community have all shaped Jin's experience there, and he's always aimed to bring energy and a positive attitude to the program, even through injuries, losses and difficult days. Becoming a better athlete has never been about winning every match — it's about learning from the tough ones and coming back stronger, a lesson MSA has helped instil.

Being recognised alongside incredible athletes

The Athlete of the Decade award recognises the highest-achieving athlete in each sport at MSA over the past ten years, and being selected for tennis was a significant honour. Jin shared the recognition with an impressive group of athletes from across different sports, including AFL and AFLW stars and NBA player Johnny Furphy — a genuinely surreal group to be included alongside.

What means the most, though, is what the award represents. A 13-year-old who joined MSA simply wanting to see how far his tennis could go is now, four years on, competing at Grand Slams and receiving an honour like this.

The people behind it

None of this journey has happened alone. Family, coaches, teammates and everyone at MSA have all played their part, and Marc Sophoulis, the Academy's Head Tennis Coach, has been especially influential in Jin's development, believing in him throughout. The way MSA has supported his tennis while also making him feel part of the wider school community has meant a great deal — a reminder of how important it is for an athlete to have people around them who believe in what they're capable of.

Still only the beginning

It's easy to look back at the past few years and see how far Jin has come, but at 17, there's still a great deal he wants to achieve — more improvement, more challenges against the best in the world, and plenty still to discover about where this sport can take him.

Receiving the Athlete of the Decade award is a moment of real pride, but hopefully, a decade from now, it will look like just one milestone in a much bigger journey. For now, there's gratitude to MSA for believing in him from the start — pride in being the first wheelchair athlete in the tennis program, and even greater pride in still being part of it.