The Halberg Awards is one of the most glamorous events of the year. This year’s 62nd annual ceremony was certainly up there with the best. Sports stars from across the decades swapped their sports gear for posh frocks, sparkly shoes and smart suits as they walked the red carpet at Auckland’s Spark Arena.
Multiple medal winners from 2024’s Paris Olympics, including canoe sprinter Dame Lisa Carrington, track cyclist Ellesse Andrews, para athletes Anna Grimaldi and Will Stedman, high jumper Hamish Kerr and slalom canoist Finn Butcher headed to the event, where they were treated to performances by singers Ella Monnery and Troy Kingi, and dined on Kiwi flavours, including smoked kahawai, 12-hour pressed lamb shoulder, and berry mousse with vanilla sable and horopito.
“I’m super-humbled to be here,” said Finn Butcher, 29, who took home Best Sporting Moment – the only public-voted category – for his emotional tribute to his dad, placing his gold medal around his father’s neck. “Spending an evening with all these incredible athletes is so special.”
Finn’s partner and fellow canoe slalom athlete Courtney Williams, 28, said, “Watching Finn win in Paris was so cool. I just felt pure joy. His dad’s reaction when he won was the best, though. He whipped his top off and started spinning it around his head. It was hilarious!”
Receiving the Para Athlete of the Year award was a surreal but profound moment for Anna Grimaldi. The athlete won gold in the T47 200m final in Paris.
“I grew up watching the Halbergs, never believing there would be an opportunity to win one,” enthused Anna, 28. “My Year 12 speech at school was on Sophie Pascoe, so being presented this award by her was incredible.
“I was super-shy as a little girl – I didn’t want anyone to know I was disabled and only had one hand. I always used to say para sport took a negative and turned it into a positive. But, it’s shown me my disability was a positive from the start.
“I wasted so much time trying to make myself small and fit in. Now I wish little Anna could have found the courage to let people know the real her sooner.”
While Dame Lydia Ko, 27, won Sportswoman of the Year and Supreme Award, accepting her accolades via video link from overseas, Dame Lisa Carrington, 35, took home a trophy alongside her K4 sprint team, Alicia Hoskin, 25, Tara Vaughan, 21, and Olivia Brett, 23. She also picked up coach Gordon Walker’s award for Coach of the Year. He’d had to leave the event due to illness.
“I’m stoked for us,” said Lisa. “All the finalists have done amazing things – I’m so inspired by the women in this room tonight. It’s an incredibly competitive field.”
Alicia added, “I first paddled with Lisa when I was 18 and my legs were shaking so much, I was so nervous and excited. Not much has changed! What Lisa does well is help bring our unique strengths together to make a collective energy.”
But while the women were ecstatic to win, celebrations were muted. “There’s Champagne on our table, but it’s not for us!” joked Olivia, eyes flicking to Lisa.
“Training’s at 8am tomorrow, so we get a bit of a sleep-in,” Lisa countered with a straight face.
There was no such early schedule for Sportsman of the Year, high jump gold medallist Hamish Kerr, 28, who flew up from Christchurch with his girlfriend of three years, Maddie Wilson, 22, and fellow Halberg nominees, para athlete Will Stedman, 25, and coach James Sandilands, 28.
“This moment was up there with winning gold, for sure!” smiled the 1.98-metre athlete, who admits life has changed significantly since soaring over the 2.36m bar in Paris. “We’re enjoying a few days off, although Maddie was supposed to start back at uni last week.
“Just after I got back from the Olympics, I was going to a barbecue at James’ house. Someone came up to me to shake my hand – and I had a bottle of Champagne in both hands. That was awkward!” he laughs. “I’m training hard as I have more goals to tick off, but I’m also doing a lot of different things these days. I’m very grateful for the life I lead now.”
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