Athletics New Zealand – News – Valerie Vili Sportswoman and Halberg Supreme Award winner for 2009

Valerie Vili was named Sportswoman of the year for the fourth year in a row and collected the coveted Supreme Award for the third consecutive year at the prestigious Halberg Awards dinner in Auckland last evening.

The twice world shot put champion and Olympic and Commonwealth champion said that she felt real humble to be up against so many awesome athletes in the country.
“This last season was a tough one mentally, physically and emotionally but we managed to get through and hope that there will be many more seasons to come,” she said.

The number one in the world said that to win the Supreme Award for the last three years was a real honour.
“It has been a fantastic night for athletics with Allison Roe and Barry Magee being inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame. It was all about rowing and athletics tonight so I’m happy to come out on top and support our sport and also take away that trophy.”

Asked if the next decade could be hers Vili said that she will keep going for as long as possible and see what happens.

Vili was a finalist for athlete of the last decade, which went to Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell.
In both acceptance speeches Vili paid a tribute to her coach Kirsten Hellier.

“It’s been an awesome journey, you’ve been my coach for 11 years, you’re my coach of the year, you’re my coach of the decade, you’re my coach for ever and ever and I hope that our journey will continue,” she said.
“My coach and I have been like an untold marriage – we spend more time with each other than we do our own husbands – I don’t know if that is good or bad. You’re an awesome woman and I so value the time that you give and put into me as an athlete and also to the other throwers who are coming up,” said Vili.
Vili also thanked the public of New Zealand.

“Your support is fantastic without your support we wouldn’t do what we do. I do my sport for love and nothing else and if I did it for something else I’d be out of this country.”

Murray McKinnon
Communications Advisor
Athletics New Zealand
0274 806086
murray@mckinnon.co.nz

Athletics New Zealand – News