Supreme Award winner Dame Lisa Carrington during the 61st ISPS Handa Halberg Awards held at Spark Arena, Auckland. Photo: Photosport
One of New Zealand's most decorated athletes continues to grow her incredible legacy.
Dame Lisa Carrington bagged herself a Halberg hat-trick at the annual sport awards in Auckland last night.
The Olympic and world champion kayaker won the Supreme Halberg Award for the third time at the glitzy event at Spark Arena.
Carrington, (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou) pipped cyclist Aaron Gate, double New Zealand para-sportsman Cameron Leslie, the Black Ferns Sevens team, and kayak coach Gordon Walker for the top prize.
A typically humble Carrington, who also claimed her sixth Sportswoman of the Year award, was quick to deflect praise.
"It's just wicked to be here and to celebrate sport and really it's an acknowledgement of the wider team and all the people who help me."
Despite having previously won the title in 2016 and 2021, Carrington says the honour of winning the award has not waned.
"The amount of amazing athletes here is wicked and being recognised alongside them as really special."
Carrington hopes it won't be the last title she brings home this year, with her eye on an other Olympic medal in Paris.
"It's a big year but I'm super excited. I've got such an awesome team on and off the water. I'm just so privileged to do what I do so I can't wait."
Rounding out the success for kiwi kayakers, Gordon Walker won the Coach of the Year Awards for a fifth time, having guided the New Zealand to three world titles.
Sportsman of the Year, Cyclist Aaron Gate and NZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Photo: Photosport
Making history as the first cyclist to win the Sportsman of the Year, Aaron Gate beat out All Black Ardie Savea, squash player Paul Coll, golfer Ryan Fox and motor racing driver Shane van Gisbergen.
"I didn't expect it at all. A huge honour to be among the the other people that have won this award in the past and even the people that were here tonight, so it really does mean a lot."
Double New Zealand representative Cameron Leslie was named Para Athlete of the Year for his performances at the World Para Swimming Championships
and Wheelchair Rugby World Cup in Paris.
"Some pretty strong competition in this category every single year. Sophie's (Pascoe) been such a dominant athlete for so long so this is up there."
Leslie said he takes his position as a role model very seriously.
"There just weren't the role models around that we have now today, which is really cool to be part of that, to be flying the flag and showing people what you can achieve even if you're missing limbs or whatever it might be that your is your impairment."
Double New Zealand representative Cameron Leslie, during the 61st ISPS Handa Halberg Awards. Photo: Photosport
Taking home team of the year was the Black Fern Sevens following a year of their unprecedented success in the Sevens World Series.
Kelly Brazier accepted the award on behalf of the team and said they are driven by inspiring future female rugby players.
"Stoked on behalf of the team to to receive the award. There's obviously a lot of hard work that went on last year to win the series and I guess this was kind of just a bonus on top. We have got some pretty special individuals in our group and just have genuine love for one another. So it's special to just be surrounded by these girls day in day out."
Speed Climber Julian David won the Emerging Talent award and was delighted to bring attention to the niche sport.
"Oh pretty stoked, It's a great feeling, it adds a bit of pressure now because people know my name so when I head to competitions I have to make sure I really do well.
Sir Wayne Smith, was awarded the Leadership Award, and said it was a confronting moment to have his career celebrated.
I've been in the game a long time and I've had as many failures as wins, so I feel proud but really humbled by it, in rugby we like to talk about ourselves as team people. It's probably the most important person you can be is a team person."
In the only award voted for by the public, the Warriors claimed sporting moment of the year for their epic comeback win against the Sharks.
Captain Tohu Harris was surprised to have beaten out moments such as Sam Whitelock's clutch turnover in the Rugby World Cup quarter final and Hannah Wilkinson's historic goal at Eden Park.
"There were some pretty cool moments like Ryan Fox winning the tournament against the best players in the world and the goal against Norway. So there's been a whole heap of special moments in different sports and it just shows how much the fans got on the bandwagon, got on the wave."
Warriors Tohu Harris and Marcelo Montoya accepted the Sporting moment of the year Award. Photo: Photosport
Halberg Award winners:
Supreme award: Dame Lisa Carrington
Para athlete/team of the year: Cameron Leslie
Sportsman of the year: Aaron Gate
Sportswoman of the year: Dame Lisa Carrington
Team of the year: Black Ferns Sevens
Coach of the year: Gordon Walker
Emerging talent: Julian David
Leadership award: Sir Wayne Smith
Favourite sporting moment: Warriors
-RNZ