New Zealand's 2026 Forsyth Barr Central Otago Sports Awards Winners Announced

Snow sports athletes, coaches and officials were honoured at the 2026 Forsyth Barr Central Otago Sports Awards in Wānaka. Held at the Lake Wānaka Centre and hosted by Sport Central, the awards recognised not only remarkable achievements by Central Otago athletes over the past year, but the people and programmes that helped shape them.

Wānaka’s Zoi Sadowski-Synnott was named Health 2000 Wānaka Sportswoman of the Year and recipient of The Bruce Grant Memorial Trophy – the overall Forsyth Barr Supreme Award. Her 2025/26 season included two silver medals at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, two silver medals at the 2026 X Games, and being named Natural Selection Tour overall champion.

Accepting the awards on Zoi’s behalf, Sean Synnott acknowledged the wider team and community behind his daughter's success. "It all came down not just to Zoi’s resilience and ability, but to the whole team environment and support she was given," he said.

"There is no other programme in the world, I think, that can continue to deliver a whole bunch of performance athletes and support them in the right way so they can keep bringing recognition back to New Zealand."

Freeski star Luca Harrington was named Central Lakes Construction Sportsman of the Year following a remarkable international season that included an Olympic bronze medal, X Games gold and silver medals, and multiple World Cup podium finishes.

Luca's mother Nancy Stout, accepting the award on his behalf, said Central Otago’s outdoor and sporting culture played a major role in shaping her son's journey, with opportunities across multiple sports – from triathlon and football to trail bike riding, rock climbing, kayaking and skiing – helping build the foundation for his success.

"He certainly benefited from the wider community of sports that he’s been exposed to his whole life," she said. "The grassroots programme really has been instrumental for him."

Luke Harrold was named Gallaway Cook Allan Junior Sportsman of the Year respectively. Freeski judge Victoria Beattie was recognised with the Findex Official of the Year award, and Snow Sports New Zealand Park & Pipe Head Coach Tom Willmott, also the guest speaker at the event, was named Orchard Park Coach of the Year.

Two outstanding Central Otago sporting figures were also inducted into the Central Lakes Trust Hall of Fame, including para athlete Adam Hall. Hall was recognised for his outstanding contribution to New Zealand para snow sports and an international career spanning multiple Paralympic Games, including six Paralympic medals.

Adam said he was "very humbled and full of gratitude" for the recognition, acknowledging the coaches, volunteers, family and organisations who supported his journey.

Full list of the 2026 Forsyth Barr Central Otago Sports Awards winners:

• Forsyth Barr Supreme Award – The Bruce Grant Memorial Trophy: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott

• Health 2000 Wānaka Sportswoman of the Year: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (Snowboard Big Air and Slopestyle)

• Central Lakes Construction Sportsman of the Year: Luca Harrington (Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air)

• Jennian Homes Team of the Year: SkyCity Stampede (Ice Hockey)

• Gallaway Cook Allan Junior Sportsman of the Year: Luke Harrold (Freeski Halfpipe)

• Gallaway Cook Allan Junior Sportswoman of the Year: Indy Deavoll (Downhill Mountain Biking)

• Orchard Park Coach of the Year: Tom Willmott (Snow Sports New Zealand Park & Pipe Head Coach)

• Wānaka Physiotherapy Senior Spirit of Central Otago Award: Murray MacMillan (Rodeo)

• Ray White Wānaka Junior Spirit of Central Otago Award: Charlise Wyatt (Touch and Athletics)

• Findex Official of the Year: Victoria Beattie (Freeski Judging)

• Otago Polytechnic Para Athlete of the Year: Adam Hall (Para Alpine Skiing)

• John Fitzharris Memorial Trophy for Services to Sport: Kellie Bailey (Canoe Slalom)

• Sport Central Sporting Moment of the Year: Phoebe Laker (Athletics)