Lauren Boyle Named 2016 New Zealand Swimmer Of The Year

Swimming New Zealand Award winners via @SwimmingNZ Twitter

Yesterday, Lauren Boyle was named Swimming New Zealand’s 2016 Swimmer of the Year and International Swimmer of the Year.

After taking silvers in both the 800 and 1500 meter freestyles in Kazan this summer, Boyle has emerged as the world’s foremost non-Ledecky female distance swimmer. Boyle’s World Championships 800 swim smashed her own national and Oceanic records, while the 1500 would have taken down of Kate Zeigler’s previous record, which came before Ledecky’s historic 2013 swim.

After swimming 8:25.00 in the 800 this weekend at New Zealand Olympic Trials, well under the 8:33.97 ‘A’ cut, Boyle will most likely represent her country in the event in Rio.

Kane Radford, fresh off his fifth consecutive national title at New Zealand’s Open Water Championships in January, won Swimming New Zealand’s 2016 Open Water Swimmer of the Year.

S10 100 fly world record holder Sophie Pascoe, who won three golds at this summer’s IPC World Championships, took the award for 2016 Swimmer of the Year with a Disability.

The award for 2016 Relay Team of the Year went to the country’s men’s 400 medley relay from Kazan, Corey Main, Glenn Snyders, Bradlee Ashby, and Matt Stanley, who finished 16th at this year’s FINA World Championships.

Other honorees included:

  • Eleanor Pinfold: Masters Swimmer of the Year
  • Noel Hardgrave-Booth: Coach of the Year
  • Wilrich Coetzee: New Zealand Swimming Trust Emerging Swimmer of the Year, New Zealand Swimming Trust Zonal Emerging Swimmer of the Year for the Harlequins
  • Sam McKenzie: New Zealand Swimming Trust Zonal Emerging Swimmer of the Year for the Makos
  • Chelsey Edwards: New Zealand Swimming Trust Zonal Emerging Swimmer of the Year for the All Stars
  • Eliot Lundon-Moore: New Zealand Swimming Trust Zonal Emerging Swimmer of the Year for the Aquaknights
  • Fiona Campbell: Volunteer of the Year
  • Dianne Farmer: Technical Official of the Year
  • North Shore Swimming Club: Performance Swimming Club of the Year

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jane
7 years ago

wait hold on when was this posted?

Gina
7 years ago

Wilrich Coetzee – I am going out to practice a South African -Kiwi accent. I might be some time.

CONFUSED II
7 years ago

Thanks!

CONFUSED II
7 years ago

Does the article title mean 2015 swimmer of the year?

Admin
Reply to  CONFUSED II
7 years ago

CONFUSED II – no, Swimming New Zealand refers to the winners in the year the award was given.

Confused
7 years ago

I guess you mean Boyle smashed her national record in the 1500, and the 800 came within 4 seconds of Adlington’s 800m mark from Beijing 2008 which Ledecky broke in 2013, not 2012?

About Hannah Hecht

Hannah Hecht

Hannah Hecht grew up in Kansas and spent most of her childhood trying to convince coaches to let her swim backstroke in freestyle sets. She took her passion to Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and swam at NAIA Nationals all four years. After graduating in 2015, she moved to …

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