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Winter Paralympic gold medallist Adam Hall received a standing ovation and fought back tears when he won the Otago Sportsman and overall Otago Sportsperson of the Year awards at the Dunedin Town Hall last night.
The win capped a roller-coaster year for Hall, who returned home to a hero's welcome after winning gold in the men's standing slalom at the Winter Paralympics in Vancouver in March.
Hall acknowledged his mother, Gayle Hall, when receiving the Sportsperson of the Year award, saying "it's very sad not to have her here".
He had been coming to the sports award for four years, "always as a nominee".
Receiving the top accolade placed him alongside Danyon Loader, Greg Turner and Jeff Wilson.
"It's an understatement to say what an honour and a privilege it is to be on that list. It's huge for me," he said.
He thanked his family, friends and coaches for supporting him over the years and helping him break barriers in his way.
"I had the number one team behind me."
The 22-year-old, who has spina bifida, was the first Otago skier to win a gold medal at the Paralympics.
However, his elation had turned to sorrow when his mother died in a car accident 400m from the family's Woodside home in April.
Mrs Hall played a major role in helping her son achieve his goals.
International cyclist Alison Shanks won the top sportswoman award, her partner, Craig Palmer, was named the top coach, and snowboarder Kendall Brown was the top junior.
The North Otago Hawke Cup cricket team was named the Team of the Year, Paddy O'Neill won the Services to Sport award and Animation Research received the Innovation in Sport award.