Golf icon Dame Lydia Ko has won New Zealand’s highest sporting honour, the Supreme Halberg Award, at a ceremony in Auckland on Tuesday night, where she was also named Sportswoman of the Year.
Her achievements in the past year included winning Olympic gold in Paris, claiming the British Open title, and earning induction into golf’s Hall of Fame.
She won over strong competition, including last year’s winner Dame Lisa Carrington, track cyclist Ellesse Andrews, cricketer Amelia Kerr, tennis player Erin Routliffe, and rower Emma Twigg.
Meanwhile, Olympic high jump champion Hamish Kerr secured the Sportsman of the Year title, with Paralympic gold medallist Anna Grimaldi named Para Athlete of the Year.
The women’s K4 sprint kayak crew, featuring Dame Lisa Carrington, Alicia Hoskin, Olivia Brett, and Tara Vaughan, were honoured as Team of the Year, while their coach, Gordon Walker, claimed his sixth Coach of the Year award.
Other notable winners included footballer Tyler Bindon, who received the Emerging Talent award, and tennis player Marcus Daniell, who was recognised with the Leadership Award for his contributions to athlete advocacy and philanthropy.
Halberg Award winners list:
- Supreme Halberg Award: Dame Lydia Ko (golf)
- Sportswoman of the Year: Dame Lydia Ko (golf)
- Sportsman of the Year: Hamish Kerr (athletics – high jump)
- Para Athlete of the Year: Anna Grimaldi (Para athletics)
- Team of the Year: Women’s K4 Sprint Kayak Crew (canoe racing)
- Coach of the Year: Gordon Walker (canoe racing)
- Emerging Talent: Tyler Bindon (football)
- Leadership Award: Marcus Daniell (tennis)
- Sir Murray Halberg Legacy Award: Michael Hynard
