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Slade named NZU Sportsperson of the Year
Saturday, July 23rd, 2005
GOLD medal-winning Paralympian Matthew Slade pulled off one of his greatest victories last night when he was named New Zealand Universities’ sportsperson of the year for 2004.
Slade, who has cerebral palsy, beat five able-bodied Athens Olympians at the annual NZ Universities Blues’ dinner held in Wellington to become the first disabled athlete to win the supreme award. The Otago University student captured gold in the T37 200m at last September’s Athens Paralympics to complete a full set of medals after scooping silver and bronze in Sydney four years earlier.
Slade’s victory saw him pip trap shooter Nadine Stanton, rowers George Bridgewater and Nathan Twaddle (all Waikato) and Black Sticks hockey internationals Emily Naylor and Kayla Sharland. All five able-bodied Olympians received Olympic diplomas for finishing in the top eight in their events in Athens.
Paralympics New Zealand chief executive Craig Hobbs said Slade’s win was rich reward for the sprinter and a “brilliant” victory for the movement. “The biggest thing for us is Matthew’s been judged purely on his achievement and he’s been judged ahead of allcomers including able bodied athletes. We’re ecstatic,” Hobbs said.
University Sport New Zealand chief executive Jim Ellis said Slade’s win in Athens made it simple for the judges.
“The Olympians were all high achievers but when you get somebody winning a gold medal, that counts for a lot. He deserves it.”
The NZ Universities Maori Sportsperson of the Year was University of Waikato’s Jolene Henry (Te Atihaunui-a-paparangi / Ngapuhi). Jolene is a member of the NZ Silver Ferns Netball Team.
NZ Universities Coach of the Year - Sergio Salis, for Rowing, from the University of Otago.
NZ Universities Administrator of the Year - Margaret Nicholson, for Netball, from the University of Waikato.
Megan Ross from the University of Louisiana was also recognised for her outstanding achievements, winning a Bronze and a Silver medal, at the 2004 World University Water-Skiing Championships.
A full list of recipients can be found on NZU Blues Recipients
