Wānaka athletes scooped top awards when the sporting achievements of the region’s athletes were celebrated last night (Wednesday May 18) at the annual Southern Lakes Motors Central Otago Sports Awards (COSA).

The COSAs celebrate Central Otago based athletes’ contributions to regional, national and international sport with awards ranging from best team, top coach, and best junior and senior sportsmen and women through to those displaying the best spirit and those who best served their sporting community.

Two-hundred guests attended the awards to celebrate the huge achievements of the sporting community at the function last night, Sport Central spokesperson Tiny Carruthers said.

While Central Otago’s sports region stretches from Maniototo to Roxburgh, Kingston to Glenorchy, Cardrona to Makarora and all points in between, Upper Clutha athletes made up the majority of the award winners at the ceremony.

Olympic trailblazer Zoi Sadowski-Synnott took out the event’s supreme award, the Bruce Grant Trophy, and she was also crowned Sportswoman of the Year.

Fellow Wānaka Olympian Nico Portous was named Sportsman of the Year, and up-and-coming local snowsports talent and yet another Olympian, Gustav Legnavsky, earned the Junior Sportsman of the Year award. 

Wānaka-based Paralympian Adam Hall won Para Athlete of the Year.

Adam Hall, pictured competing in the 2022 Beijing Olympics, received the Para Athlete of the Year award.

The Coach of the Year award went to Sean Thompson for his role supporting Zoi.

Queenstown freeskier Ruby Andrews won the Junior Sportswoman of the Year award.

The Senior Spirit award went to Ben Richards “for his commitment and assistance to snowsports in Wānaka,” Tiny said.

Gustav Legnavsky, flying high, received the Junior Sportsman of the Year award.

The Junior Spirit Award went to Dunstan High School athlete Neve Spooner, who was commended for her dedication to the Flames Ice Hockey Club, and for her own ice hockey journey.

The Team of the Year award was tightly contested between two Wakatipu High School rowing teams, with the boys under 16 coxed quad sculls coming out on top in the end. 

The COSA celebration took place at the Lake Wānaka Centre.

Tiny thanked the sponsors for their support and assistance making the event possible.

PHOTOS: Supplied