2026 Blue Award Winners
Our 2026 Blue Award winners have excelled at regional, national and international levels, proving what's possible when dedication meets talent. This year we also recognise Sports Officiating for the first time, celebrating the vital role officials play in fair, safe and successful sporting environments. Congratulations to every winner for an outstanding year of success.
Major awards 2026
Junior Athlete of the Year
Freya Des Fountain
Football
Along with playing for the Phoenix Women’s team, Freya represented New Zealand in 2 Football World Cups. She played for the New Zealand U17 Football Ferns at the end of 2025 and the U20 Football Ferns during 2026.
Sports Official of the Year
Courtney Day
Football
Courtney was nominated on the 2025 Dettol Women's National League refereeing panel as an assistant referee, where she was appointed at the grand final as the first assistant referee. In June, Courtney was selected by FIFA to officiate for her 1st international match between Afghan Women United Women and the Cook Islands Women.
Māori Athlete of the Year
Holly Williams
Touch Rugby and Rugby
Holly represented North Harbour for Touch Rugby and Rugby Union. Holly’s North Harbour team won the National Touch Championships; additionally, Holly was named in the top 3 players across New Zealand in the Farah Palmer Cub Individual Award.
Athlete of the Year
Zoe Crawford
Surf Life Saving
Zoe Crawford has had an outstanding year representing New Zealand in Surf Life Saving. In 2025, Zoe became World Games Champion in the 100m Manikin Tow in Chengdu, China, after earlier breaking the world record in the same event with a time of 54.77 seconds.
Sport Scholar of the Year
Jill Gillette
Field Archery
Competing in the Adult Woman Freestyle Compound, Jill has achieved National Champion titles in both Indoor and Marked Field Archery and won a World Championship title in Adult Woman Freestyle.
Sports Blue Awards 2026
Winner | Discipline |
|---|---|
Acima Mabidikama | Powerlifting |
Aimee Collinson | Equestrian - Show Jumping |
Alana Mathews | Athletics - Race Walking |
Amy Alexander | Canoe Polo |
Ashley Vincent | Futsal |
Bailee McDowall | Touch Rugby |
Bridget Hill | Lacrosse |
Cleo Nicola Loader | Athletics |
Freya Des Fountain | Football |
Grace Richardson | Ocean Ski racing |
Gurveer Singh Saini | Taekwon-Do |
Harison Clulow | Hockey |
Ho Ting Ruby Chan | Fencing |
Holly Chaafe | Rowing |
Holly Williams | Touch Rugby |
Jaden Movold | Athletics - Wheelchair Racing |
Jill Gillette | Field Archery |
Joline Chin | Aerobic Gymnastics |
Josh Bruce-Campbell | Olympic Handball |
Kaya Flower | Cheerleading |
Lani Egelagi-Rawle | Beach Volleyball |
Levi Matheson | Archery |
Manaia King | Touch Rugby |
Maximilian Maggs | Archery |
Mia Swann | Netball |
Olivia Skinner | Artistic Roller Skating |
Quinn Masila | Touch Rugby |
Sofia Heuman | Synchronised Ice Figure Skating |
Weiya (Viya) Zhang | Bodybuilding |
Zhan Bowden | Athletics |
Zoe Crawford | Surf Life Saving |
Zoe Parnell | Rhythmic Gymnastics |
Sports Officiating Blue Awards 2026
Winner | Discipline |
|---|---|
Courtney Day | Futsal and Football Referee |
Josh Bruce-Campbell | Olympic handball Referee |
Art, Culture and Design Blue Award 2026
Winner | Discipline |
|---|---|
Jingrui Han | Film music composition |
