The finalists have been named for the 55th Halberg Awards - New Zealand's top sporting honours.
Lisa Carrington crosses the line first in the K1 200m at the world champs in the Czech Republic. Photo: Supplied
Sixteen finalists from the Disabled Sportsperson, Sportsman, Sportswoman and Team of the Year categories are all in line for the supreme Halberg Award - the country's highest accolade for sporting excellence.
2016 supreme Halberg Award winner Lisa Carrington is in line for the top honours again as a finalist in two categories - the Team of the Year and Sportswoman of the Year.
Carrington is a finalist in the Sportswoman of the Year for claiming medals in all her four events at the World Kayaking Championships - including two gold.
Joining Carrington is golfer Lydia Ko who continues to be ranked within the world top 10 and Black Ferns' Portia Woodman, who was named World Rugby Women's Player of the Year.
Sarah Goss, the double international Black Ferns player and Black Ferns Sevens World Series winning captain, completes the shortlist.
World champion shot putter Tom Walsh and Formula One driver and Le Mans winner Brendon Hartley are up for the Sportsman of the Year. All Black and World Rugby Men's Player of the year Beauden Barrett and Blackcap Ross Taylor, who ended 2017 with the best test average in the world, are also finalists.
Carrington and Caitlin Ryan who paired up in the Women's K2 500m to a world championship title are up for the Team of the Year category. Two other world champion teams; the Black Ferns and Black Sox are finalists, along with America's Cup winners Team New Zealand.
The Halberg Disabled Sportsperson of the Year award includes four time winner, Para swimmer Sophie Pascoe who set six world records in 2017.
William Stedman and Holly Robinson who both won silver medals at the World Para Athletics Championships and Para skier Corey Peters, who won two silver medals at the World Para Alpine Skiing Championships, also make the shortlist.
2016 winner Gordon Walker is up for the Coach of the Year. In 2017 Walker guided four canoe racing boats, including Lisa Carrington, to medals at the World Kayak Championships. Black Sox coach Mark Sorenson, Black Ferns coach Glenn Moore and rowing coach Gary Hay, who all led their teams to world championship victories round out the shortlist.
The Emerging Talent award features a group of young athletes who have had great achievements in 2017 including track cyclist Ellesse Andrews who won the individual pursuit and a world record at the UCI Junior Track World Championships. Sailor Josh Armit who won the under 17 Laser Radial World Title, freeskiier Nico Porteous who won the Australia New Zealand Cup Free Ski Halfpipe and rower Matthew MacDonald who claimed a silver medal in the men's Coxless Four at the World Junior Rowing Championships are also finalists.
The winners will be presented at the 55th Halberg Awards ceremony on February 8th at Spark Arena in Auckland.
Other awards presented during the ceremony include; New Zealand's Favourite Sporting Moment (public vote category), Sport New Zealand Leadership, Lifetime Achievement and inductees into the Sports Hall of Fame.
-RNZ
