Finalists Announced for the 2025 Swimming NZ Awards
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
Announcement of the Finalists for the 2025 Swimming NZ Awards
We are excited to announce and congratulate the finalists for the 2025 Swimming NZ Awards, ahead of announcing the respective winners at the upcoming 2026 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 2025 calendar year.
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 2025 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 2025 Swimming NZ Awards
The finalists have been announced for each award below, outlining the award criteria and finalists. Please note some awards don't have finalists, so the winner will be announced at the time. Presentation times will be confirmed ahead of the championships kicking off.
Swimmer Awards
Baxter O'Neill Trophy
It is presented to the overall swimmer of the year for swimming performance, services to the sport and character.
Billie Fitzsimmons Cup
The International Swimmer of the Year award is presented to the swimmer with the most outstanding performance in the 2025 calendar year.
Lewis Clareburt (Club 37, now United)
Erika Fairweather (North Shore)
Zoe Pedersen (Coast)
Dame Sophie Pascoe International Para Swimmer of the Year
It is presented to a Para swimmer with the most outstanding international performance in the 2025 calendar year.
Joshua Willmer (Coast)
Cameron Leslie (Whangarei)
Gaby Smith (Vikings, now Wharenui)
Domestic Swimmer of the Year
It is presented to a swimmer who has excelled in New Zealand competitions during the 2025 calendar year.
Hazel Ouwehand (Phoenix Aquatics)
Laura Quilter (Coast)
Chelsey Edwards (North Shore)
Domestic Para Swimmer of the Year
It is presented to a Para swimmer who has excelled in New Zealand in the 2025 calendar year.
Rylee Sayer (Matamata, now Hamilton Aquatics)
Asher Smith-Franklin (North Shore, now Coast)
Annette Kellerman Cup
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 2025 calendar year.
Louis Clark (North Shore)
Alex Dunkley (Roskill)
Ruby Heath (Neptune & Swim Dunedin, now Kiwi & Swim Dunedin)
Abbey Smale (Wharenui)
Closest to World Record
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 2025 calendar year.
Coach Awards
Coach of the Year
It is presented as the supreme coach of the year, for coaching performance, services to the sport and character in the 2025 calendar year.
International Coach of the Year
It is presented to the coach of the swimmer with the most outstanding international performance in the 2025 calendar year.
Graham Hill (North Shore)
John Gatfield (Coast)
Mitch Nairn (Club 37, now United)
International Para Coach of the Year
It is presented to the coach of the Para swimmer with the most outstanding international performance in the 2025 calendar year.
Tom Onley (Whangarei)
Simon Mayne (Swimming NZ)
Domestic Coach of the Year
It is presented to a coach who has excelled in New Zealand in the 2025 calendar year.
David Lyles (Phoenix)
Michael Weston (Coast)
Michelle Gillies (North Shore)
Domestic Para Coach of the Year
It is presented to a Para swimming coach who has excelled in New Zealand in the 2025 calendar year.
Graeme Laing (Matamata)
Sheldon Kemp (Pukekohe)
Andy McLay & Emma Smith (Aquagym)
Mat Woofe (Hamilton Aquatics)
Club Awards
Duncan Laing Trophy
It is presented to the club with the most combined club points in individual events at the 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships in Auckland, the 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Age Group Swimming Championships in Hawke's Bay and the 2025 NZ Short Course Swimming Championships in Auckland.
Coast
North Shore
United
Wharenui
Volunteer & Technical Officials Awards
Jackie Clarke Award
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 2025 calendar year.
Winner to be announced on the night
Bill Matson Award
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 2025 calendar year.
Carlrine Gillespie (Northland)
Gavin Ion (Waikato)
Paul Matson (Wellington)
Domestic Technical Official of the Year
It is presented to a technical official for outstanding contribution within New Zealand in the 2025 calendar year.
Edward Hardie (Waikato)
Erin Jenkins (Hawke's Bay Poverty Bay)
Andy McFarlane (Canterbury West Coast)
Glenys McKenzie (Canterbury West Coast)
Lisa Rowland (Bay of Plenty)
NZ Swimming Trust Awards
Norma Williams Cup - Emerging Swimmer of the Year
Friday 15 May in opening of finals session
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
Charlie Dickison (Ngā Tai Tūātea a Taraika)
Noah Ireland-Spicer (Otaki Titans, now Capital)
Madeleine Wilson (SwimZone Racing)
Please note that there will be no winner for this zone, as no athletes met the NZ Swimming Trust's minimum requirement of 750 World Aquatics Points.
Aquaknights Zone (to be presented Thursday 14 May in opening of finals session)
Orlando Hardie (Hamilton Aquatics)
Alyssa Lawson (Hamilton Aquatics & St Andrew's)
Ariel Muchirahondo (Swim Rotorua)
Alyssa Tapper (St Peter's Cambridge & Griffith University)
Harlequins Zone (to be presented Friday 15 May in opening of finals session)
Grayson Coulter (North Shore)
Milan Glintmeyer (Coast)
Zoe Pedersen (Coast)
Igor Russanov (Coast)
Makos Zone (to be presented Thursday 14 May in opening of finals session)
Rylee McBride (Wharenui)
Alfie Weatherston Harvey (Kiwi & Swim Dunedin)
Rylind Wheeler (North Canterbury)
Para Swimmer (to be presented Thursday 14 May in opening of finals session)
Londyn Dillinger (Murihiku)
James Haydon (Club 37, now United)
Charlotte Murphy (Aquagym)
Rylee Sayer (Hamilton Aquatics)
The overall winner of the Norma Williams Cup and Don Stanley Scholarship will be presented once all zonal winners are awarded on Friday 15 May.
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