Carrington honoured with supreme award for third time

Dame Lisa Carrington celebrates winning gold in the K1 200m final at the canoe sprint world championships in Duisburg, Germany, last year. It was her 15th world title. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

World champion kayaker Dame Lisa Carrington has secured New Zealand’s highest sporting honour for 2023.

She collected the supreme award at the 61st Halberg Awards ceremony in Auckland last night for the third time.

The 34-year-old five-time Olympic gold medallist was named sportswoman of the year earlier in the evening.

Carrington claimed her 15th canoe sprint world championship title in Germany last year thanks to her victory in the K1 200m on the final day of competition.

The win provided her third title of the regatta, after the K4 500m and the K1 500m, just 24 hours earlier.

Carrington claimed the sportswoman honour ahead of fellow finalists Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, who won the supreme award last year for her snowboarding exploits, cyclist Ellesse Andrews, motocross rider Courtney Duncan and swimmer Erika Fairweather.

Cyclist Aaron Gate received the sportsman of the year award for his results at the world track championships, including victory in the men’s points race and two bronze medals in the men’s madison and men’s team pursuit.

He edged a field including All Blacks star Ardie Savea and squash player Paul Coll.

The Black Fern Sevens were named team of the year for their unprecedented success in the Sevens World Series, maintaining an undefeated streak of 36 matches. The other finalists included the All Blacks and the Warriors.

Gordon Walker, who guided the New Zealand women’s sprint kayak contingent to three world titles, claimed the coach of the year award for the fifth time. He was favoured ahead of Ian Foster, Sean Thompson, Corey Sweeny and Lars Humer.

Double New Zealand representative Cameron Leslie was named para athlete of the year for his performances at the world para swimming championships, where he claimed one gold, two silvers and a bronze. Leslie also co-captained the Wheel Blacks at the International Wheelchair Rugby World Cup in Paris in the same year.

Speed climber Julian David was awarded the emerging talent accolade.

Veteran rugby coach Wayne Smith was honoured with Sport New Zealand’s leadership award.