Wellington Swimming picks up three awards

Swimming picked up one of the big awards, and two others, at the Wellington Sportsperson of the Year awards last night, at a star-studded gala event at the TSB Arena.

Para Swimmer Mary Fisher is the Wither Hills Sportswoman of the Year for the second successive year on the back of multiple successes on the national and international stage.

She was also awarded the Pelorus Trust Disabled Sportsperson of the Year award for the third year running.

Swimming Wellington Operations Manager Henrietta Latham picked up the Greater Wellington Regional Council Administrator of the Year award as a first time finalist.

Fisher was surprised and honoured to be a recipient again.

“It’s really humbling being able to celebrate again after last year.”

Fisher competed at the IPC Para Pan Pacs in California, winning all six races and setting several new world records. Despite all her achievements overseas, her most satisfying performances were in Wellington in front of her home crowd and friends, where she got short course world records in the 50m butterfly and 400m freestyle.

Latham has been vital in coordinating and developing a regional Athlete Development Programme to the National High Performance Pathway, and has coordinated training tools and best practice education for clubs in the region. She said receiving the award was “totally unexpected”.

“I didn’t expect it at all. It’s fantastic for swimming – it really is.”

Photo: Brady Dyer