Leslie Claims Baxter O'Neill Trophy
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Celebrating the Recipients of the 2025 Swimming NZ Awards
The 2025 Swimming NZ Awards were presented across the five days of the 2026 NZ Swimming Championships in Auckland. One of the highlights was Cameron Leslie (Whangarei) winning his first 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 plenty of worthy recipients honoured across the championships.
On the final night of the championships, six Aquablacks were presented their Aquablack pin certificates to acknowledge their achievement of representing New Zealand at pinnacle international competition.
Recipients for the 2025 Swimming NZ Awards
The complete list of recipients for the 2025 Swimming NZ Awards is outlined below, including the award criteria and why each recipient received their 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: Cameron Leslie (Whangarei)
Leslie receives this award after an outstanding 2025 calendar year, featuring two silver medal-winning performances at the World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore. The award also recognises Leslie as a role model for the wider swimming community.
It is the first time Leslie has won this award.
Dame Sophie Pascoe International Para Swimmer of the Year
The Dame Sophie Pascoe International Para Swimmer of the Year is presented to a Para swimmer with the most outstanding international performance within the 2025 calendar year.
Winner: Cameron Leslie (Whangarei)
Cameron receives this award for his performances at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships, where he won two silver medals in the S4 50m freestyle and backstroke events, in addition to his sixth place finish in the 100m freestyle. This is the fourth consecutive year Cameron 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 2025 calendar year.
Winner: Erika Fairweather (North Shore)
Fairweather receives this award for her strong performances representing New Zealand internationally in 2025, most notably for her sixth place finish in the 200m freestyle and seventh place finish in the 800m freestyle at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Fairweather was also a standout performer at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup, where she won six silver medals and one bronze medal.
This is the third consecutive year Fairweather has won 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 2025 calendar year.
Winner: Hazel Ouwehand (Phoenix Aquatics)
Ouwehand receives this award for her strong performances across the 2025 calendar year, which included a world-class performance at the Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships where she broke the New Zealand record in 25.43 to record one of the fastest times in the world that year.
This is the first time Ouwehand has won this award.
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 2025 calendar year.
Winner: Rylee Sayer (Matamata, now Hamilton Aquatics)
Sayer receives this award for her breakout performances across the 2025 calendar year, which included achieving multiple MQS times for the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships. Of note, Sayer's New Zealand record breaking performance in the 50m freestyle at the New Zealand Age Group Swimming Championships saw her catapult to fourth in the world rankings.
This is the first time Sayer 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 2025 calendar year. This award is commonly known as the Open Water Swimmer of the Year.
Winner: Louis Clark (North Shore)
Clark receives this award in honour of his performances across open water swimming events in the 2025 calendar year. At the 2025 NZ Open Water Swimming Championships in Taupo, he won the men's 5km national title – which secured his place at the aQuelle Midmar Mile in South Africa. Clark won the Midmar Mile, and then went on to earn the pool qualifying standard for the World Aquatics Championships 3km knockout open water swim. On Aquablack debut in Singapore, Clark placed 19th in his heat.
This is the first year Clark 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 2025 calendar year.
Winner: Erika Fairweather (North Shore)
Fairweather received this award for her performance in the women's 200m freestyle at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, where she placed sixth in the world.
This is the third consecutive year Fairweather 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 2025 calendar year.
Winner: Cameron Leslie (Whangarei)
Leslie receives this award for his performance in the men's 50m backstroke S4 at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore, where he won silver.
This is the fourth consecutive year Leslie 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 2025 calendar year.
Winner: Graham Hill (North Shore & Swimming NZ)
Hill receives this award for coaching Erika Fairweather to two finals at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, as well as her seven medal haul at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup. Hill also coached Louis Clark to his Aquablack debut in the open water swimming at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, coached Monique Wieruszowski to be a multiple finalist at the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships, and guided Chelsey Edwards to multiple open national records.
The award also acknowledges his efforts in leading the North Shore Swimming Club, which topped the Age Group Points table at the 2025 New Zealand Swimming Championships, New Zealand Age Group Swimming Championships, and New Zealand Short Course Swimming Championships.
This is the first time Hill 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 2025 calendar year.
Winner: Graham Hill (North Shore & Swimming NZ)
Hill receives this award for coaching Erika Fairweather to two finals at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, as well as her seven medal haul at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup. Hill also coached Louis Clark to his Aquablack debut in the open water swimming at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, and coached Monique Wieruszowski to be a multiple finalist at the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships.
This is the first time Hill 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 2025 calendar year.
Winner: Tom Onley (Whangarei)
Onley receives this award for his coaching of Cameron Leslie to two silver medals at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships.
This is the fourth consecutive year Onley 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 2025 calendar year.
Winner: Michael Weston (Coast)
Weston receives this award for his coaching achievements of Coast Swimming Club across the 2025 national championships, where the club notably won Top Open Club at both the New Zealand Swimming Championships and New Zealand Short Course Swimming Championships. Of note, Weston also coached Amber George and Savannah-Eve Martin to their Aquablack debut in 2025, with the duo delivering consistently strong performances across the 2025 calendar year.
This is the third consecutive year Weston 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 2025 calendar year.
Winner: Graeme Laing (Matamata)
Laing receives this award in recognition of his coaching of breakout Para swimmer Rylee Sayer, who earned multiple MQS times for the World Para Swimming Championships and delivered a standout performance in the 50m freestyle at the New Zealand Age Group Swimming Championships – with her performance ranking fourth in the world at the time.
This is the first time Laing 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 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.
Winner: North Shore
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 2025 calendar year. This award is commonly known as the Volunteer Administrator of the Year.
Winner: Dianne Farmer (Swimming Manawatu)
Farmer receives this award in honour of her dedication and countless hours poured into the sport. Farmer is the regional administrator for the Manawatu region, a position that is entirely voluntary. Farmer has been recognised for her commitment as regional administrator that has helped the region increase its number of members of the past few years. Beyond her role as an administrator, Farmer travels throughout the country to national championships to officiate, further exemplifying her love for and dedication to 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 2025 calendar year. This award can be referred to as the International Technical Official of the Year.
Winner: Paul Matson (Wellington)
Matson receives this award for his appointment in various key positions at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, which included Referee and Assistant Referee during the open water swimming competition in Singapore.
Domestic Technical Official of the Year
The Domestic Technical Official of the Year is presented to recognise technical officials who have made an outstanding contribution within New Zealand in the 2025 calendar year.
Winner: Edward Hardie (Waikato)
Hardie receives this award for his commitment to officiating at multiple national championships throughout 2025. He performed his role as Starter to a consistently high standard across the calendar year and has shown strong development in recent years. Hardie also held key officiating roles at the New Zealand Open Water Swimming Championships, where he again executed his position to a high standard.
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
No winner presented in 2025
Aquaknights Zone
Ariel Muchirahondo (Swim Rotorua)
Harlequins Zone
Milan Glintmeyer (Coast)
Zoe Pedersen (Coast)
Mako Zone
Alfie Weatherston Harvey (Kiwi & Swim Dunedin)
Para Swimmer
Rylee Sayer (Hamilton Aquatics)
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 2025. This award winner also receives the Don Stanley Alumni scholarship.
Winner: Zoe Pedersen (Coast)
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