Fairweather Claims Back-to-Back Baxter O'Neill Trophies
- dale493
- 2 days ago
- 10 min read
Celebrating the Recipients of the 2024 Swimming NZ Awards
The 2024 Swimming NZ awards were presented across the five days of the 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships in Auckland, where Erika Fairweather (Neptune & Swim Dunedin, now North Shore) capped off her memorable and record-breaking 2024 calendar year by taking out her second consecutive Baxter O'Neill Trophy.
With some incredible performances by swimmers and coaches across New Zealand and internationally when representing the country, and dedication from officials and volunteers to the sport, there were lots of worthy recipients presented during the championships.
Fairweather took home a bag full of awards for her feats in 2024, including the Billie Fitzsimmons Cup as "International Swimmer of the Year" and Closest to World Record - Olympic Pathway in addition to her second consecutive Baxter O'Neill Trophy.
Fairweather's coach Lars Humer (Swim Dunedin) was recognised his achievements across the Swim Dunedin programme and coaching three Aquablacks on to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games team and their respective performances internationally in Paris and Doha by taking out the overall Coach of the Year award and the International Coach of the Year, both for the third consecutive year.
Cameron Leslie (Whangarei) was recognised for his performances at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games to be the first recipient of the renamed Dame Sophie Pascoe International Para Swimmer of the Year award, an award he has now won for the third consecutive year. His coach Tom Onley (Whangarei) received the International Para Coach of the Year for the third consecutive year also.
Leslie found this award extra special after being a teammate with Dame Sophie Pascoe for their international careers.
"It's pretty special to win the inaugural Dame Sophie Pascoe International Para Swimmer of the Year. We started our international careers together so it's cool to have another crossing after long careers. Sophie is a special human and an incredible athlete, she set the benchmark for Kiwi swimmers over the past decade or so I feel."
Asher Smith-Franklin (North Shore) took out his second consecutive Domestic Para Swimmer of the Year award for his continued performances and development across the 2024 calendar year. Todd Mason (Vikings) was recognised as the Domestic Para Coach of the Year for the first time.
Coast Swimming Club took out their second consecutive Duncan Laing Trophy as the top club combined across the three national pool championships results in 2024, with coach Michael Weston recognised as Domestic Coach of the Year in recognition of the club achievements domestically.
Ross Gillespie (Dargaville) received his third Bill Matson Trophy as the "International Technical Official of the Year" for his two international appointments in 2024. He was selected as one of only two starters across the world for the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha before being appointed as an official for the open water swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Beth Finer (Dargaville) received the Jackie Clarke "Volunteer Administrator of the Year" for her dedication to organising and delivering competitions across the Northland region.
Ellie Sherwood (Bay of Plenty) was recognised as the Domestic Technical Official of the Year for her standard of officiating at national and local competitions across the 2024 calendar year.
During the championships, three Aquablacks were presented their Aquablack pin certificates to acknowledge their achievement of representing New Zealand at pinnacle international competition. Congratulations to Georgia Marris (Aquablack #260), Kane Follows (Aquablack #287) and Taiko Torepe-Ormsby (Aquablack #288).
We would like to congratulate all recipients of awards, and to the finalists named for each category. Thank you for your achievements and contribution to our sport within the 2024 calendar year.
Recipients for the 2024 Swimming NZ Awards
The complete list of recipients for the 2024 Swimming NZ awards have been celebrated for each award below, outlining the award criteria and why they received the award.
Swimmer Awards
Baxter O'Neill Trophy
The Baxter O'Neill Trophy is presented to the overall swimmer of the year for swimming performance, services to the sport and character.
Winner: Erika Fairweather (Neptune & Swim Dunedin, now North Shore)
Erika receives this award for her outstanding performances across the 2024 calendar year. Becoming World Champion with a NZ Record-breaking and sub 4-minutes performance in the Women’s 400m Freestyle in Doha was the highlight, alongside her silver and bronze medals. Other highlights also include making three individual finals and being a member of the 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay team who made the final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Erika is also being recognised being a role model for the wider swimming community. This is the second consecutive year Erika has received this award
Billie Fitzsimmons Cup
The International Swimmer of the Year award is presented to the swimmer with the most outstanding performance in the 2024 calendar year.
Winner: Erika Faiweather (Neptune & Swim Dunedin, now North Shore)
Erika receives this award for her strong performances representing New Zealand internationally in 2024, most notably for becoming World Champion in the 400m Freestyle in a New Zealand Record alongside a silver and bronze medal in Doha, as well as making three individual finals and the Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This is the second consecutive year Erika has won this award.
Dame Sophie Pascoe International Para Swimmer of the Year
For the first time, this award has been renamed the Dame Sophie Pascoe International Para Swimmer of the Year in recognition of her international swimming career highlighted by being an 11-time Paralympic Champion. Dame Sophie Pascoe had previously won this award a record eight time during her career. The Dame Sophie Pascoe International Para Swimmer of the Year is presented to a Para swimmer with the most outstanding international performance within the 2024 calendar year.
Winner: Cameron Leslie (Whangarei)
Cameron receives this award for his performances at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games where he made the final in all four of his events, including two fourth places. This is the third consecutive year Cameron has received this award.
Domestic Swimmer of the Year
The Domestic Swimmer of the Year is presented to a swimmer who has excelled in New Zealand competitions during the 2024 calendar year.
Winner: Helena Gasson (Coast)
Helena receives this award for her strong performances at both the 2024 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships and 2024 Apollo Projects NZ Short Course Swimming Championships, where she achieved world-class short course World Aquatics A times across three events, the 100m Backstroke, 100m Individual Medley and 50m Butterfly. This is the second time Helena has won this award, previously in 2019, and showed that Helena was still performing at her best as she retired from competitive swimming at the end of last year.
Domestic Para Swimmer of the Year
The Domestic Para Swimmer of the Year is presented to a Para swimmer who has excelled in New Zealand competitions during the 2024 calendar year.
Winner: Asher Smith-Franklin (North Shore)
Asher receives this award for his consistently strong and NZ Record-breaking performances across the calendar year. This is the second consecutive year Asher has received this award.
Annette Kellerman Cup
The Annette Kellerman Cup is presented to the individual with the best result in open water events in New Zealand and overseas during the 2024 calendar year. This award is commonly known as the Open Water Swimmer of the Year.
Winner: Alex Dunkley (Roskill)
Alex receives this award for his performances at the 2024 Orangetheory NZ Open Water Swimming Championships in Taupo where he won the Men’s 10km national title. Alex also performed strongly at the 2024 World Aquatics Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in Sardinia, where he was the highest ranked New Zealand swimmer in the 10km event and progressed to the second round in the 3km knockout event. This is the second consecutive year Alex has received this award.
Closest to World Record - Olympic Pathway
It is presented to the Olympic pathway athlete who achieved a time closest to the World Record at the time of the event in the 2024 calendar year.
Winner: Erika Fairweather (Neptune & Swim Dunedin, now North Shore)
Erika receives this award from her history making performance in the Women’s 400m Freestyle final in Doha, where she became New Zealand’s first World Aquatics Champion as she broke her New Zealand Record as the fifth fastest woman in history. This is the second consecutive year Erika has won this award.
Closest to World Record - Paralympic Pathway
It is presented to the Paralympic pathway athlete who achieved a time closest to the World Record at the time of the event in the 2024 calendar year.
Winner: Cameron Leslie (Whangarei)
Cameron receives this award for his performance in the Men’s 50m Freestyle S4 at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. This is the third consecutive year Cameron has received this award.
Coach Awards
Coach of the Year
This award is presented as the supreme coach of the year award for coaching performance, services to the sport and character in the 2024 calendar year.
Winner: Lars Humer (Swim Dunedin)
Lars receives this award for his coaching of top performances in 2024, such as Erika Fairweather’s three medals in Doha including her gold in the Women’s 400m Freestyle, and coaching Caitlin Deans and Kane Follows to make it three swimmers from the Swim Dunedin programme on to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games team. This award also recognises the Swim Dunedin programme, with a highlight being providing for more than 60 swimmers aged 18+. This is the fourth time Lars has received this award.
International Coach of the Year
The International Coach of the Year is presented to the coach of the swimmer with the most outstanding international performance in the 2024 calendar year.
Winner: Lars Humer (Swim Dunedin)
Lars receives this award for his coaching performance of helping three Swim Dunedin swimmers, Caitlin Deans, Erika Fairweather & Kane Follows, to be selected for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This award recognises his coaching achievements internationally during the 2024 calendar year, which include Erika Fairweather becoming NZ’s first World Aquatics Champion in the 400m Freestyle and her medals in the 200m Freestyle and 800m Freestyle in Doha. The highlights from Paris include Erika making three individual finals and the Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle making the final which included Caitlin and Erika in the team. This is the third consecutive year Lars has received this award.
International Para Coach of the Year
The International Para Coach of the Year is presented to the coach of the Para swimmer with the most outstanding international performance in the 2024 calendar year.
Winner: Tom Onley (Whangarei)
Tom receives this award for his coaching of Cameron Leslie at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, where Cameron made the final in all four of his events and included two fourth place finishes. This is the third consecutive year Tom has received this award.
Domestic Coach of the Year
The Domestic Coach of the Year is presented to a coach who has excelled in New Zealand during the 2024 calendar year.
Winner: Michael Weston (Coast)
Michael receives this award for his coaching achievements of Coast Swimming Club across the 2024 national championships and the individual performances by his swimmers at these championships. This is the second consecutive year Michael has received this award.
Domestic Para Coach of the Year
The Domestic Para Coach of the Year is presented to a coach who has excelled in New Zealand during the 2024 calendar year.
Winner: Todd Mason (Vikings)
Todd receives this award for his coaching of Para swimmers in 2024, most notably Gaby Smith as she qualified for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. This is the first time Todd has received this award
Club Awards
Duncan Laing Trophy
The Duncan Laing Trophy is presented to the club with the most combined club points in individual events from the 2024 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships in Hawke’s Bay, the 2024 Apollo Projects NZ Age Group Swimming Championships in Hawke’s Bay and the 2024 Apollo Projects NZ Short Course Swimming Championships in Auckland.
Winner: Coast (5048 points)
This is the second consecutive year Coast won this award.
Volunteer & Technical Officials Awards
Jackie Clarke Award
The Jackie Clarke Award is presented to a volunteer who has displayed outstanding commitment and dedication to swimming either to Swimming NZ, a region, or a club within administration in 2024 calendar year. This award is commonly known as the Volunteer Administrator of the Year.
Winner: Beth Finer (Dargaville)
Beth receives this award for her dedication to the sport. Beth holds multiple roles within the region, which include being the database caretaker, recorder and a member of the Events Committee and Awards Committee for Northland. She oversees all club meets across the Northland region and is the driving force behind developing new initiatives for members and young swimmers. Beth travels regularly throughout the region to assist with competition delivery, leading operations of the control room and upskilling others along the way. She is proactive in promoting upcoming meets and engaging with the clubs in the region to provide a positive experience for all. Beth no longer has a swimmer based in the region since her daughter now studies and swims in Dunedin, but continues to give so much to the delivery of the sport.
Bill Matson Award
The Bill Matson Award is presented to a technical official who has officiated in an integral role in an international competition in the 2024 calendar year. This award can be referred to as the International Technical Official of the Year.
Winner: Ross Gillespie (Dargaville)
Ross receives this award for his two major international appointments within the 2024 calendar year. Ross was appointed as one of only two starters from around the world for the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, and then appointed as an Open Water Official at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This is the third time Ross has won this award.
Domestic Technical Official of the Year
The Domestic Technical Official of the Year is presented to recognize technical officials who have made an outstanding contribution within New Zealand in the 2024 calendar year.
Winner: Ellie Sherwood (Bay of Plenty)
Ellie is the recipient of this award for her outstanding commitment and contribution to competitions throughout the country and her local region throughout the 2024 calendar year. Ellen officiated to an excellent standard within integral roles at national championships, which has also been recognised by her being nominated to the World Aquatics Swimming Officials List earlier this year. This is the first time Ellie has received this award.
NZ Swimming Trust Awards
Emerging Swimmer of the Year
These awards are presented by the NZ Swimming Alumni to up-and-coming swimmers from each of the four zones and a Para swimmer who has excelled in the qualifying period in long or short course. Nominees must not have won the overall award previously.
The winners for each zonal category are:
All Stars Zone
Daniel Williams (SwimZone Racing)
Aquaknights Zone
Milana Tapper (St Peter's Cambridge)
Harlequins Zone
Isabelle Gibson (Club 37)
Zoe Pedersen (Coast)
Makos Zone
Brooke Bennett (Jasi, previously North Canterbury)
Para Swimmer
Asher Smith-Franklin (North Shore)
Norma Williams Cup & Don Stanley Scholarship
The Norma Williams Cup is presented to the overall emerging swimmer of the year in recognition of their achievements in 2024. This award winner also receives the Don Stanley Alumni scholarship.
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