Finalists Announced for the 2024 Swimming NZ Awards
- dale493
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Announcement of the Finalists for the 2024 Swimming NZ Awards
We are excited to announce and congratulate the finalists for the 2024 Swimming NZ Awards, ahead of announcing the respective winners at the upcoming 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships in Auckland next week.
These awards recognise the outstanding performances achieved by members of our community within New Zealand and internationally when representing our country in the 2024 calendar year.
Within these awards, we are thrilled to announce that we have renamed the International Para Swimmer of the Year award to recognise the significant contribution of Dame Sophie Pascoe to our sport. Having retired from competitive swimming earlier this year as New Zealand's most decorated Paralympian, the award will now be called the "Dame Sophie Pascoe International Para Swimmer of the Year."
Swimming NZ's Chief Executive, Steve Johns, believes renaming this award is a fitting way to continue recognising her contribution to swimming in New Zealand.
"Dame Sophie Pascoe has been a leader in and out of the water and an inspiration to New Zealanders all around the country. Her sustained excellence in the pool has been second to none and she is a true sporting great. We are delighted to have renamed this award to recognise her legacy for our Para swimmers on the international stage."
The Dame Sophie Pascoe International Para Swimmer of the Year will be presented for the first time on Friday 23 May.
In preparation for the awards to be presented during the finals sessions next week, we have provided the details for each of the awards and their respective finalists below. We would like to congratulate each finalist on being recognised for their achievements and service in the 2024 calendar year.
Don't miss any of presentations or the racing next week. Spectator tickets are still available to attend all sessions or you can tune into the action live and free on the Swimming NZ YouTube channel.
Finalists for the 2024 Swimming NZ Awards
The finalists have been announced for each award below, outlining the award criteria and time they will be presented. Please note some awards don't have finalists, so the winner will be announced at the time.
Swimmer Awards
Baxter O'Neill Trophy
Sunday 25 May in Opening (approx 5.50pm)
It is presented to the overall swimmer of the year for swimming performance, services to the sport and character.
Billie Fitzsimmons Cup
Friday 23 May in Medals Break (approx 7.25pm)
The International Swimmer of the Year award is presented to the swimmer with the most outstanding performance in the 2024 calendar year.
Lewis Clareburt (Club 37)
Erika Fairweather (Neptune & Swim Dunedin, now North Shore)
Eve Thomas (Coast)
Dame Sophie Pascoe International Para Swimmer of the Year
Friday 23 May in Medals Break (approx 7.25pm)
It is presented to a Para swimmer with the most outstanding international performance in the 2024 calendar year.
Cameron Leslie (Whangarei)
Gaby Smith (Vikings)
Joshua Willmer (Pukekohe, now Coast)
Domestic Swimmer of the Year
Friday 23 May in Opening (approx 5.50pm)
It is presented to a swimmer who has excelled in New Zealand competitions during the 2024 calendar year.
Lewis Clareburt (Club 37)
Erika Fairweather (Neptune & Swim Dunedin, now North Shore)
Helena Gasson (Coast)
Hazel Ouwehand (Phoenix Aquatics)
Domestic Para Swimmer of the Year
Friday 23 May in Medals Break (approx 7.25pm)
It is presented to a Para swimmer who has excelled in New Zealand in the 2024 calendar year.
Rylee Sayer (Matamata)
Asher Smith-Franklin (North Shore)
Annette Kellerman Cup
Presentation Time (TBC)
The Open Water Swimmer of the Year is presented to the individual with the best result in open water events in New Zealand and overseas in the 2024 calendar year.
Alex Dunkley (Roskill)
Larn Hamblyn-Ough (Coast)
Ruby Heath (Neptune & Swim Dunedin)
Closest to World Record
Friday 23 May in Medals Break (approx 7.25pm)
It is presented to the athlete from each of the Olympic pathway and the Paralympic pathway who achieved a time closest to the World Record at the time of the event in the 2024 calendar year.
Coach Awards
Coach of the Year
Sunday 25 May in Opening (approx 5.50pm)
It is presented as the supreme coach of the year award for coaching performance, services to the sport and character in the 2024 calendar year.
International Coach of the Year
Thursday 22 May in Opening (approx 5.50pm)
It is presented to the coach of the swimmer with the most outstanding international performance in the 2024 calendar year.
Lars Humer (Swim Dunedin)
Mitch Nairn (Club 37)
International Para Coach of the Year
Friday 23 May in Opening (approx 5.50pm)
It is presented to the coach of the Para swimmer with the most outstanding international performance in the 2024 calendar year.
Todd Mason (Vikings)
Tom Onley (Whangarei)
Domestic Coach of the Year
Friday 23 May in Opening (approx 5.50pm)
It is presented to a coach who has excelled in New Zealand in the 2024 calendar year.
Michael Weston (Coast)
Mitch Nairn (Club 37)
Domestic Para Coach of the Year
Friday 23 May in Opening (approx 5.50pm)
It is presented to a Para swimming coach who has excelled in New Zealand in the 2024 calendar year.
Graham Hill (North Shore)
Graeme Laing (Matamata)
Todd Mason (Vikings)
Club Awards
Duncan Laing Trophy
Sunday 25 May in Opening (approx 5.50pm)
It is presented to the club with the most combined club points in individual events at 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.
Club 37
Coast
North Shore
United
Wharenui
Volunteer & Technical Officials Awards
Jackie Clarke Award
Sunday 25 May in Opening (approx 5.50pm)
The Volunteer Administrator of the Year is presented to a volunteer who has displayed outstanding commitment and dedication to swimming either to Swimming NZ, a region, or a club, in administration in the 2024 calendar year.
Dianne Farmer (Palmerston North - Manawatu)
Beth Finer (Dargaville - Northland)
Vicky Gibbs (Tawa - Wellington)
Sandra Sutcliffe (Pukekohe - Waikato)
Mandy Thomas (Tasman - Nelson Marlborough)
Bill Matson Award
Sunday 25 May in Opening (approx 5.50pm)
The International Technical Official of the Year is presented to a technical official who has officiated in an integral role in an international competition in the 2024 calendar year.
Christine Cassin (Wharenui - Canterbury West Coast)
Carlrine Gillespie (Dargaville - Northland)
Ross Gillespie (Dargaville - Northland)
John West (Auckland)
Domestic Technical Official of the Year
Sunday 25 May in Opening (approx 5.50pm)
It is presented to a technical official for outstanding contribution within New Zealand in the 2024 calendar year.
Dianne Farmer (Palmerston North - Manawatu)
Glenys McKenzie (Vikings - Canterbury West Coast)
Ellie Sherwood (Bay of Plenty)
NZ Swimming Trust Awards
Norma Williams Cup - Emerging Swimmer of the Year
Saturday 24 May in Medals Break (approx 7.05pm)
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 finalists for each zonal category are:
All Stars Zone (to be presented Saturday 24 May in medals break)
Kayne Howat (SwimZone Racing)
Noah Ireland-Spicer (Otaki Titans)
Daniel Williams (SwimZone Racing)
Aquaknights Zone (to be presented Friday 23 May in opening)
Pippa Mihaka (Hamilton Aquatics)
Ariel Muchirahondo (Swim Rotorua)
Chloe Peters (Hamilton Aquatics)
Milana Tapper (St Peter's Cambridge)
Harlequins Zone (to be presented Saturday 24 May in medals break)
Isabelle Gibson (Club 37)
Milan Glintmeyer (Coast)
Zoe Pedersen (Coast)
Savannah-Eve Martin (Coast)
Makos Zone (to be presented Friday 23 May in opening)
Hanna Abdou (Wharenui)
Brooke Bennett (Jasi, previously North Canterbury)
Rylee McBride (Wharenui)
Para Swimmer (to be presented Saturday 24 May in medals break)
Erin Knox (SwimZone Racing)
Charlotte Murphy (Aquagym)
Rylee Sayer (Matamata)
Asher Smith-Franklin (North Shore)
The overall winner of the Norma Williams Cup and Don Stanley Scholarship will be presented once all zonal winners are awarded on Saturday 24 May.
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