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It’s not often that Israel Adesanya gets a kick in the teeth, but the UFC world champion fighter received one on Wednesday, with the 2020 Halberg Awards canned and replaced by awards for New Zealand’s sporting exploits over a decade.
The country’s pre-eminent event to honor and celebrate New Zealand’s sporting excellence annually, the Halberg Awards have been held every year since 1963, after an earlier version ended in 1960.
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World champion Israel Adesanya defended his UFC world title twice in 2020.
But at a function in Auckland on Wednesday night, the Halberg Foundation announced that it would honor only the sports champions of the past decade as the centerpiece of its 2021 awards ceremony.
“As international sporting events will be severely affected in 2020, the Halberg Foundation has decided that it will include merit performances this year in the sporting year 2021,” said a statement.
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New Zealander Courtney Duncan won the Women’s Motocross World Championship in Loket, Czech Republic.
With Covid-19 effectively demolishing the 2020 Olympics, which would likely have provided many winners, the Halberg Foundation chose to dismiss 2020 as a worthy sporting year, despite several New Zealanders standing out through thick and thin.
This year’s performances will be eligible for the 2021 awards, and the Tokyo Olympics will now be held in July and August 2021.
“The Halberg Foundation is delighted to be able to highlight our Champions of the Decade at the ISPS Handa Halberg Awards and after a challenging year for the sport, to reflect and honor the best of the best,” said Shelley McMeeken, Executive Director of the Halberg Foundation.
So there will be no 2020 repeat for 2019 Athlete of the Year Adesanya, who defended his world middleweight title against Yoel Romero in March and last month against Brazil’s Paulo Costa, in a performance of the nightly exhibition.
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Alice Robinson in action during the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women’s Giant Slalom.
Others who must wait a year, and hope the judges have a good memory, are Courtney Duncan, Alice Robinson, Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin, Shane van Gisbergen and the Crusaders.
Duncan from Otago this year overcame the restrictions imposed by Covid-19 to claim the FIM Women’s Motocross World Title. Duncan, 24, won nine of his 10 championship races to lead the world.
Another to look forward to is skier Alice Robinson, who won the World Cup’s second giant slalom race in February, before the world crashed.
Charlie Neibergall / AP
Scott Dixon won his sixth IndyCars title.
In the United States, the Kiwi Scott Dixon took his sixth IndyCars title. Only one man has claimed more.
On the other side of the gutter, Scott McLaughlin won the Supercars title in impressive fashion, for the third year in a row. His compatriot Shane van Gisbergen conquered Bathurst Mountain to win the big race for the first time.
After Covid destroyed Super Rugby, the Crusaders were victorious in a renewed Super Rugby Aotearoa.
But in 2021, the Halberg Awards will be a celebration of New Zealand’s outstanding sporting achievements from 2010 to 2019, in a ceremony on February 18 at the Spark Arena in Auckland.
Previous winners in eight categories will compete for the honors of champion of the decade.
The supreme will join the champions of the previous decade: Dame Yvette Corlett (n. Williams) (athletics) of the 1950s; Sir Peter Snell (athletics) of the sixties; Sir John Walker (athletics) of the seventies; Sir Richard Hadlee (cricket) from the 1980s; Danyon Charger from the 90s (swimming); and Carolyn Meyer and Georgina Earl from the 2000s (née Evers-Swindell) (rowing).
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Garth Tander and Shane van Gisbergen celebrate their Bathurst 1000 victory.
For the first time, the Halbergs will recognize the winners of the category of team of the decade, for athlete, athlete, sportsman, coach and emerging talent.
The public will be able to vote on New Zealand’s favorite sporting moment of the decade.
The Sport New Zealand Leadership Award and Hall of Famers will be part of the celebrations.
An independent voting academy of leading athletes, coaches, administrators and sports media will review the finalists to decide the winners of the decade.
The awards are also the main fundraising event for the Halberg Foundation, which aims to improve the lives of New Zealanders with physical disabilities by enabling them to participate in sports and recreational activities.
Full list of finalists:
Champion of the decade: 2010 All Whites (soccer), 2011 All Blacks (rugby), male partner 2012, Hamish Bond and Eric Murray (rowing), Lydia Ko 2013 (golf), male partner 2014, Hamish Bond and Eric Murray (rowing), 2015 All Blacks (rugby), 2016 Lisa Carrington (canoeing), 2017 Emirates Team New Zealand (sailing), 2018 Tom Walsh (athletics), 2019 Silver Ferns (netball).
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Dan Carter shoots a penalty for the All Blacks during the 2015 Rugby World Cup final.
Team: 2010 All Whites (football), 2011 All Blacks (rugby), 2012 men’s couple, Hamish Bond and Eric Murray (rowing), 2013 All Blacks (rugby), 2014 men’s couple, Hamish Bond and Eric Murray (rowing ), 2015 All Blacks (rugby), 2016 men’s 49er, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (sailing), Emirates Team New Zealand 2017 (sailing), 2018 Black Ferns Sevens (rugby), 2019 Silver Ferns (netball) ).
To the athlete (introduced in 2011): 2011 Sophie Pascoe (For swimming), 2012 Sophie Pascoe (For swimming), 2013 Sophie Pascoe (For swimming), 2014 Mary Fisher (For swimming), 2015 Sophie Pascoe (For swimming), 2016 Liam Malone (For athletics), 2017 Sophie Pascoe (For swimming), 2018 Adam Hall (For alpine skiing), 2019 Sophie Pascoe (For swimming).
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Dame Valerie Adams will be among the favorites for athlete of the decade.
Athlete: 2010 Dame Valerie Adams (athletics), 2011 Dame Valerie Adams (athletics), 2012 Dame Valerie Adams (athletics), 2013 Lydia Ko (golf), 2014 Lydia Ko (golf), 2015 Lydia Ko (golf), 2016 Lisa Carrington (canoe races), 2017 Lisa Carrington (canoe races), 2018 Lisa Carrington (canoe races), 2019 Lisa Carrington (canoe races).
Athlete: 2010 Richie McCaw (rugby), 2011 Richie McCaw (rugby), 2012 Mahe Drysdale (rowing), 2013 Scott Dixon (motorsport), 2014 Brendon McCullum (cricket), 2015 Kane Williamson (cricket), 2016 Mahe Drysdale (rowing), 2017 Tom Walsh (athletics), 2018 Tom Walsh (athletics), 2019 Israel Adesanya (mixed martial arts).
Coach: 2010 Ricki Herbert (football), 2011 Sir Graham Henry (rugby), 2012 Richard (Dick) Tonks (rowing), 2013 Sir Steve Hansen (rugby), 2014 Anthony Peden (cycling), 2015 Sir Steve Hansen (rugby), 2016 Gordon Walker (canoe racing), 2017 Gordon Walker (canoe racing), 2018 Gordon Walker (canoe racing), 2019 Dame Noeline Taurua (netball).
Emerging talent: 2010 Gareth Kean (swimming), 2011 Jacko Gill (athletics), 2012 Lydia Ko (golf), 2013 Gabrielle Fa’amausili (swimming), 2014 Regan Gough (cycling), 2015 Eliza McCartney (athletics), 2016 Campbell Stewart (cycling) , 2017 Ellesse Andrews (cycling), 2018 Maddison-Lee Wesche (athletics), 2019 Alice Robinson (ski racing).
Favorite sporting moment: 2010 All Whites (soccer), 2011 All Blacks (rugby), 2012 Nathan Cohen and Joseph Sullivan (rowing), 2013 Black Sox (softball), 2014 Brendon McCullum (cricket), 2015 Grant Elliott (cricket), 2016 Eliza McCartney (athletics ), 2017 Mitchell Hunt (rugby), 2018 Anna Leat (soccer), 2019 Silver Ferns (basketball).
