Champion triathlete Emma Snowsill's outstanding performances in the past year have earned her the major honour at the Australian Sports Awards, held in Melbourne on Wednesday night.

The 25-year-old Snowsill took out the Dawn Fraser award.

Last March, Snowsill claimed gold at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games and in September, she became the first woman to win three Olympic-distance triathlon world championships.

Among the other awards, walker Nathan Deakes, who broke the 50km walk world record in December, was named male athlete of the year.

Leisel Jones was recognised as female athlete of the year after bagging four gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.

The Opals, Australia's world champion woman's basketball team, were named international team of the year and their coach Jan Stirling took out coach of the year honours.

Netball's Sydney Swifts and the AFL's West Coast Eagles tied as national team of the year.

Kurt Fearnley, who won the New York City marathon wheelchair division, won sportsperson of the year with a disability.

Former Football Federation Australia chief executive John O'Neill was named executive of the year for his role in guiding the Socceroos to the World Cup and cricket umpire Simon Taufel was official of the year.

The awards are conducted by the Confederation of Australian Sport and winners are selected by a voting academy of representatives from sporting federations, media, the Australian Sports Commission and former athletes.

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