Soon Kelsey-Lee Barber's beaming grin will transform into look of steely determination.
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Sure, winning the Canberra female athlete of the year award on Friday night was a perfect way to cap the best year of her booming career.
But the real prize Barber desires is the javelin gold medal she will be chasing at the Tokyo Olympic Games next year.
The world champion ticked off another achievement when she was recognised at a function at the National Arboretum two months after sending a message to her Olympic rivals.
The 28-year-old joined Nathan Lyon as the top individual prize winners, while the Canberra Capitals were crowned team of the year and Lauren Boden won the people's sporting champion award.
Rower Kat Ross won the para athlete of the year, while Raiders legend Alan Tongue and softball's Jeff Goolagong were inducted as full members of the ACT Sport Hall of Fame. Tennis' Ken Willis was inducted as an associate member.
Barber has enjoyed a superb 12 months, staking her claim as a medal contender in Tokyo and getting ready to erase the disappointment of her Olympic debut three years ago.
Barber won her first world title with a brilliant 66.56-metre throw in the final in Doha last month.
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Her improvements this year have followed the same trajectory as the javelin she has been hurling into the air at competitions around the world.
She spent three months in Europe with husband and coach Mike, culminating in a personal best of 67.7 metres in Switzerland before shocking the world in Dubai.
Barber is just the ninth Australian to win a track and field world title. Next year she is aiming to become the first Australian to win Olympic javelin gold, and the first to win any colour medal since 1996.
"I've had a few people ask me [about what's changed] and it's honestly just about consistency," Barber said when she arrived back in Canberra with a gold medal around her neck.
"After 2016 in Rio, there were some things that needed some big improvements and we addressed those.
"It's just been consistent training, consistent work and then topping up what I needed to with my body and the mental side of things."
Barber beat mountain-biker Rebecca McConnell and skier Laura Peel for the women's award.
Lyon emerged as the winner in a hot men's field, which also included departing ACT Brumbies captain Christian Lealiifano and Canberra Raiders star Josh Papalii.
Former Wests-UC captain and Manuka groundsmen Lyon played at the World Cup, was Australia's Test player of the year for the 2018-19 season, passed Dennis Lillee on Australia's leading-wicket taker list and helped win the Ashes in England.
"Canberra holds a very special place in my heart," Lyon said via video message before the second Test in Adelaide, which started on Friday afternoon.
"I just want to say a massive thanks to the ACT government and Cricket ACT. A massive congratulations to everyone else who won awards."
Emerging cyclist Kye A'Hern and Matildas rookie Karly Roestbakken won the rising star in a hot field of junior talent, but perhaps the most tightly-contested award was the team of the year.
The Capitals won their ninth championship when they beat the Adelaide Lightning in a tense grand final series earlier this year, packing almost 5000 fans into the AIS Arena stands for each of their two matches at home.
The Capitals beat the Raiders and Brumbies for that honour. The Raiders made the NRL grand final for the first time in 25 years, narrowly losing to the Sydney Roosters in a heartbreaking finish to the season.
But the way they played and their charge to the decider reignited rugby league passion in the capital for what many hope was the dawn of a new era.
CANBERRA SPORT AWARD WINNERS
Female athlete of the year: Kelsey-Lee Barber
Male athlete of the year: Nathan Lyon
Para athlete of the year Kathryn Ross
Team of the year: Canberra Capitals
Rising stars: Kye A'Hern, Karly Roestbakken
People's sporting champion: Lauren Boden
Outstanding service to sport: Peter Boden, Brian Golledge, Marie Hart
Hall of fame full members: Alan Tongue, Jeff Goolagong
Hall of fame associate member: Ken Willis
Minister's award for inclusion: Royal Life Saving ACT for Swim My Way
Minister's award for Innovation: Triathlon ACT for young women leadership program
Minister's award for event excellence: Dragon Boat ACT for Australian championships