14 Feb 2024

Halberg Awards: Carrington completes hat trick of supreme titles

10:32 pm on 14 February 2024
Dame Lisa Carrington at the 61st Halberg Awards at Spark Arena.

Dame Lisa Carrington at the 61st Halberg Awards at Spark Arena. Photo: PhotoSport / David Rowland

Olympic and world champion kayaker Dame Lisa Carrington has won the Supreme Halberg Award sports award for the third time.

The five-time Olympic gold medallist and 15-time world champion was also named Sportswoman of the Year, having claimed her 15th Canoe Sprint World Championship title in Germany last year with victories in the K1 200m, K4 500m K1 500m.

She won the honour ahead of last year's Supreme Halberg Award recipient Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, cyclist Ellesse Andrews, motocross rider Courtney Duncan, and swimmer Erika Fairweather.

It completes a hat trick of Supreme Award wins for Carrington, having previously won the title in 2016 and 2021.

Aaron Gate of New Zealand celebrating victory in the Men’s Points Race at the 2023 World Championships.

Aaron Gate Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Cyclist Aaron Gate won the Sportsman of the Year title, for his achievements at the UCI Track World Champsionships, including victory in the Men's Points race and two bronze medals in the Men's Madison and Men's Team Pursuit.

The other finalists were All Black Ardie Savea, squash player Paul Coll, golfer Ryan Fox and motor racing driver Shane van Gisbergen.

World para swimming champion Cameron Leslie

Cameron Leslie Photo: Photosport

Double New Zealand representative Cameron Leslie was named Para Athlete of the Year for his performances at the World Para Swimming World Championships where he claimed one gold, two silvers and a bronze.

Leslie also co-captained the Wheel Blacks at the International Wheelchair Rugby World Cup in Paris.

Shot putter Lisa Adams, sprinter Danielle Aitchison and cyclists Anna Taylor and Nicole Murray were also finalists.

Black Fern Sevens.

Black Fern Sevens. Photo: Mike Lee KLC/World Rugby/Photosport

The Black Fern Sevens won Team of the Year for their unprecedented success in the Sevens World Series, maintaining an undefeated streak of 36 matches.

The other finalists were the All Blacks, All Blacks Sevens, Women's K4 Kayak 500m and the Warriors.

Gordon Walker won the Coach of the Year Awards for a fifth time, having guided the New Zealand Women's sprint kayak contingent to three world titles.

Speed Climber Julian David won the Emerging Talent award accolade while Sir Wayne Smith, was awarded Leadership Award.