Kookaburras champion Jamie Dwyer has today been reconfirmed as one of the world’s greatest athletes after becoming the first male player to win the Hockey World Player of the Year award for a record fourth time.

Having previously won the World Player of the Year title in 2004, 2007 and 2009, as well as the World Junior Player of the Year award in 2002, his latest title sees him sit clearly as the best hockey player in the world.

His award also comes at the end of and incredible 12 months for the Kookaburras in which they became the first team in history to win all three major titles in the one year (World Cup, Champions Trophy and Commonwealth Games).

“Obviously to win the award again is a great honour and something I am very proud to have won some many times. I would really like to thank all the coaching staff and my teammates along with my wife and son who are always there for me,” said Dwyer.

While Dwyer says he is extremely humbled with the individual honour, the most pleasing aspect of his year has been the incredible success that the Kookaburras have achieved.

“I was pretty happy with my year. I thought I played well at the World Cup and Champions Trophy and from the start of the year it was our goal to win those tournaments.

To also win the Commonwealth Games and the Australian Hockey League final for Queensland, it has been a great year. But overall the thing I have been most happy with is the team success because that is what you play for,” said Dwyer.

In an ominous warning for his opponents and despite being recognised at the best player in the world yet again, Dwyer says he still has improvement left in him.

“I have things I still need to work on over the next few years before the 2012 London Olympics. I am not a complete player yet,” said Dwyer.

Having won every major title since Ric Charlesworth came on board in January 2009, Dwyer was full of praise for the coach for supporting Dwyer over the last two years.

“He is a brilliant coach. He supports me and the way I play my hockey. He gives me lots of confidence and has added things to me game that weren’t there before,” said Dwyer.

At 31 years of age, Dwyer says he is determined to continue the Kookaburras success towards the London Olympics.

“We need to stretch the gap between ourselves and the rest of the world. At the moment we have a small gap on them but it is important that we keep winning the major tournaments and continue to build towards London,” said Dwyer.

FIH Award Winners World Player of the Year - Men
Jamie Dwyer (Australia)

World Player of the Year – Women
Luciana Aymar: (Argentina)

World Young Player of the Year - Men
Tobias Hauke (Germany)

World Young Player of the Year - Women
Zhao Yudiao (China)
(Hockeyroo Casey Eastham was nominated for this award)

Hockey Australia