'The ultimate achievement': Bo de la Cruz reflects on national Sportswoman win

The Touch Football great reflects on the night two decades ago when she was named National Sportswoman at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards.

Bo de la Cruz at the 2003 National Aboriginal Sports Awards in Adelaide with Tony Mundine and Lowitja O’Donoghue where she was named National Sportswoman. Source: Supplied

Warning: This article contains the name and image of an Aboriginal person who has died.

When it came to the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards, one name has dominated the winners list: Cathy Freeman.

As her outstanding achievements and successes reached national and international levels, she was fittingly awarded the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sportswoman Awards in 1991, 1995, 1997 and 1999 and 2001.

In that period Freeman had won State and National titles, Commonwealth and Olympic Gold, World Championships and was even named Australian of the Year in 1988.

However, in 2003, a young Darwin touch footballer brought an end to Freeman’s near-decade-long reign.

Since 2000, Darwin born Bo de la Cruz - a proud descendant of the Gudjula and Meuram Tribe of Erub in the Torres Strait Islands - had been lighting up the touch football scene, establishing herself as one of the sport’s brightest talents.

Rachael Burford #9 of England looks to pass under pressure from Bo de la Cruz #9 of Australia during the Women's Seven's Challenge Cup Final match at Hong Kong Stadium on March 24, 2012. Credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Aged just 22, Bo had already had the distinction of being named vice-captain of two Australian touch football teams.

Her first national honour came in 2000, when she represented Australia in the Under-18 team against New Zealand in the Trans-Tasman Series — where she was named Player of the Series. The following year, she again impressed on the world stage at the Youth World Cup, earning the distinction of being the tournament’s most outstanding player.

After her selection in the Open Australian team later in 2001, Bo secured a place in the senior Australian women’s touch football team, cementing her rise through the ranks.

By 2003, she was the only Indigenous player selected in the Australian team for the Touch Football World Cup in Kumagaya, Japan. Bo played a crucial role in all nine of Australia’s victories on the way to claiming the World Championship title.

The final win — a hard-fought triumph over arch-rivals New Zealand — was made even more memorable when Bo was named the Player of the World Cup, a fitting recognition of her skill, leadership and dominance on the field.

(From L-R) David Peachy, Preston Campbell, Nathan Blacklock, Deb Mailman, Bo de la Cruz, Sarita King and Ricky Walford at the 2003 National Indigenous Sports Awards. Source: Supplied

With such a remarkable list of achievements behind her, Bo was named National Sportswoman of the Year at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards in Adelaide in September 2003.

Recalling the night, she remembers being surprised and speechless when her name was announced.

Bo de La Cruz at the 2003 National Aboriginal Sports Awards in Adelaide accepting her award for the National Sportswoman. Source: Supplied

“It’s the ultimate achievement — and to be recognised by your people, it’s the most wholesome and proud moment anyone could ever ask for,” she said.

“My other memory is that I was running late for the Awards! But I’ll never forget the absolute joy of having my family there to celebrate with me."

Bo De La Cruz (right) with 2003 State Achiever NT and netball star Sarrita King and Actor Deb Mailman (centre). Source: Supplied

In 2008, Bo made a bold code switch from touch football to rugby sevens, playing her first competitive matches that November. By 2009, she was part of the World Cup–winning Australian Women’s Rugby Sevens team in Dubai, famously setting up the winning try in the final against New Zealand.

Her success continued, representing Australia at the 2011 IRB Challenge Cup in Dubai and again in Hong Kong, where the team secured back-to-back tournament victories.

Bo later captained the Australian Masters teams in the 2017 Trans-Tasman Test Series and the 2019 Touch World Cup. Her incredible career was further recognised in 2022, when she was selected in both the NSW Touch Association Golden Jubilee Women’s Open Team and the Indigenous Team, as well as the Touch Football Australia Women’s Open Golden Jubilee Team.

In 2024, Bo was inducted into both the NSW Touch and Australian Touch Halls of Fame — a testament to her enduring excellence and impact on the game.

Today, Bo continues to inspire — working as a Strategic Advisor with the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council, serving as an ambassador for the Arthur Beetson Foundation, and presenting on NITV’s weekly Indigenous Rugby League program Over the Black Dot — all while being a mum to three children.

Gudjula and Meuram woman and touch football great, Bo de la Cruz is a co-host of NITV's Over the Black Dot, a show that talks all things footy. Source: Supplied / NITV Publicity

This weekend, she will proudly co-host the revamped National Indigenous Sports Awards in Brisbane alongside former NRL great Dean Widders.

“I’m really looking forward to it — to be able to do this on the Country I live on, and with my Over the Black Dot co-host and brother boy, Deano. It’s going to be a deadly night — can’t wait!” Bo said smiling.

NITV will be covering the 2025 National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards which are taking place at Howard Smith Wharves in Meanjin on Saturday, November 15.