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Finalists for the 2022 Swimming NZ Awards

Announcement of the Finalists to be Awarded at the 2023 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships

We are excited to congratulate and announce the finalists for the 2022 Swimming NZ Awards. These awards are recognition of the outstanding performances achieved by members of our community within New Zealand and internationally when representing our country. We are proud of their achievements and these awards celebrate the 2022 calendar year.


Following the integration of Para Swimming into Swimming NZ at the start of 2022, we are have updated the awards offered and their respective criteria at our annual awards. These changes now provide the same opportunities for our Olympic and Paralympic pathways for swimmers and coaches.


For the first time in 2022, we have also introduced a Domestic Technical Official of the Year award to celebrate outstanding dedication and officiating within New Zealand, in addition to our officials who attend international competitions.


A list of the awards, the criteria and the respective finalists are listed below. We are very proud of them all and would like to congratulate them all on their achievements in 2022.


The winners will be announced during the finals sessions at the upcoming 2023 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships held from 1 - 5 April at the Sir Owen G Glenn National Aquatic Centre. There are tickets available to attend the sessions in person to congratulate the winners in person, or you can tune into the Swimming NZ YouTube channel for the live action.






Finalists for the 2022 Swimming NZ Awards

The finalists have been announced in the order of presentation, with the respective time they will be awarded at the event. Please note some awards don't have finalists, so the winner will be announced at the event.


Domestic Swimmer of the Year

Saturday 1 April at 5.30pm

It is presented to a swimmer who has excelled in New Zealand competitions during the 2022 calendar year.

  • Lewis Clareburt (Capital)

  • Helena Gasson (Coast)

  • Carter Swift (Club 37)

  • Erika Fairweather (Neptune & Swim Dunedin)

  • Caitlin Deans (Neptune & Swim Dunedin)


Domestic Technical Official of the Year

Saturday 1 April at 5.30pm

It is presented to a technical official for outstanding contribution within New Zealand in the 2022 calendar year.

  • Barry Ashcroft (Auckland)

  • Glenys McKenzie (Canterbury West Coast)

  • Dianne Farmer (Manawatu)

  • Dawn Dutton (Northland)

  • Peter Deans (Otago)

  • Rowan Williams (Taranaki)

  • Sandra Sutcliffe (Waikato)

  • Jacqui Forsythe (Wellington)


Domestic Coach of the Year

Sunday 2 April at 5.30pm

It is presented to a coach who has excelled in New Zealand in the 2022 calendar year.

  • Gary Hollywood (Capital)

  • Michael Weston (Coast)

  • Mitch Nairn (Club 37)

  • Lars Humer & Kurt Crosland (Swim Dunedin)


Domestic Para Coach of the Year

Sunday 2 April at 5.30pm

It is presented to a Para swimming coach who has excelled in New Zealand in the 2022 calendar year.

  • Tom Onley (Whangarei)

  • Mat Woofe (Hamilton Aquatics)

  • Frank Tourelle (SwimZone Racing)


Domestic Para Swimmer of the Year

Sunday 2 April at 5.30pm

It is presented to a Para swimmer who has excelled in New Zealand in the 2022 calendar year.

  • Cameron Leslie (Whangarei)

  • Nikita Howarth (Hamilton Aquatics)

  • Erin Knox (SwimZone Racing)


Emerging Swimmer of the Year

Sunday 2 April after Legends Relay (medals break)

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 be under the age of 19 years at the end of the 2023 and not have won the award previously.


All Stars Zone
  • Alessandro Esposito

  • Milan Glintmeyer

  • Finn Harland

  • Molly Player

Aquaknights Zone
  • Keira Allott (Mt Maunganui)

  • Talitha McEwan (Mt Maunganui)

  • Gus Shivnan

  • Monique Wieruszowski

Harlequins Zone
  • Aimee Crosbie (Coast)

  • Isabelle Gibson (United)

  • Summer Osborne (North Shore)

  • Zyleika Pratt-Smith (Coast)

Makos Zone
  • Hanna Abdou

  • Hope Chmiel

  • Oliver Lutton

  • Kale Twist

Para Swimmer
  • Erin Knox

  • Rylee Sayer

  • Asher Smith-Franklin

  • Joshua Willmer

Norma Williams Cup

Overall Emerging Swimmer of the Year