High Performance Sport NZ Congratulates Halberg Winners

High Performance Sport New Zealand Media release

14 February 2013

High Performance Sport New Zealand Congratulates Halberg Winners

High Performance Sport New Zealand Chief Executive Alex Baumann has extended his congratulations to the winners of the 50th Westpac Halberg Awards.

“2012 was a tremendous year for New Zealand sport and the calibre of finalists in each of the Westpac Halberg Awards categories has reflected our success in winning on the world stage,” Baumann says.

“I applaud all of the category winners and especially Valerie Adams and Mahe Drysdale - High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year.

“Given our role in investing more than $60 million into high performance sport annually and helping New Zealand athletes reach the top of international competition, it’s fitting that we sponsor these two prestigious award categories.

“Selecting the winners must have been a very difficult task and that’s exactly what we want because it means there are many world-class performances by New Zealand athletes that the judges must choose from.”

High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year winners, Valerie Adams and Mahe Drysdale, shone through in outstanding short-lists of finalists.

Valerie Adams, who has joined a very select group of back-to-back Olympic Gold medallists for New Zealand, has claimed her seventh straight Sportswoman of the Year title tonight.

This is Mahe Drysdale’s fourth Sportsman of the Year title, underlying his status as a true great of New Zealand sport. Given the heartache he experienced at the Beijing Olympics, his London 2012 single sculls rowing victory was not only savoured by Mahe personally, but by the whole country.

ENDS

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