Olympic gold medal rowers Hamish Bond and Eric Murray have been awarded the Lonsdale Cup for 2012.
The award goes to the athlete or team who made the most outstanding contribution to Olympic or Commonwealth sport in the preceding year.
Bond and Murray were one of six Olympic gold medallists from London 2012.
The pair had remained unbeaten throughout their pre-Olympic build-up and capped off a stellar year by securing a world best time in the heats before powering through to take 2012 Olympic gold medal.
Bond says it's a great honour and privilege.
The Cup was first presented in 1961 to Sir Murray Halberg.
Since then it has been awarded to outstanding New Zealand athletes including Sir John Walker, Sir Peter Snell, Danyon Loader and Rob Waddell.
The Lonsdale Cup winner is selected by the board of the New Zealand Olympic Committee.