All Black Ardie Savea, snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and the New Zealand Warriors headline a list of 30 finalists for the 61st Halberg Awards announced today.
The finalists were voted for by a panel of former elite athletes and coaches, sports administrators and sports media after 76 nominations were received for this year's awards, set to be unveiled next month.
Last year's Supreme Halberg winner Sadowski-Synnott has again been nominated for sportswoman of the year after defending her X Games slopestyle gold medal at the 2023 Winter X Games. She has been nominated alongside Dame Lisa Carrington, cyclist Ellesse Andrews, swimmer Erika Fairweather and motorcross star Courtney Duncan.
World Rugby Player of the Year Savea is among five finalists for the sportsman of the year award, alongside golfer Ryan Fox, cyclist Aaron Gate, squash player Paul Coll and motorsport's Shane van Gisbergen.
Double para representative Cameron Leslie has been nominated for the para athlete/team of the year for his performances in the pool and with the Wheelblacks. He has been named alongside para cyclists Nicole Murray and Anna Taylor, world champion shotputter Lisa Adams and sprinter Danielle Aitchison.
The All Blacks and Warriors have been named among the finalists for the team of the year award, alongside the Black Fern Sevens, All Black Sevens and women's K4 500m world champions.
Former All Blacks coach Ian Foster leads the list of names for the coach of the year award. He is joined by sprint kayak coach Gordon Walker, Black Fern Sevens coach Cory Sweeney, snow sports coach Sean Thompson and swimming coach Lars Humer.
Five young promising athletes have been nominated for the emerging talent award, including kayaker Tara Vaughan, snowboarder Lucia Georgalli, speed climber Julian David, footballer Milly Clegg and mountain biker Erice Van Leuven.
The Halbergs will be presented at a ceremony at Spark Arena, Auckland on February 14.
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