Valerie Vili celebrates with her Halberg Award trophy, one of her two victories at the Vector Arena last night. Photo / Martin Sykes
Olympic gold medal-winning shot-putter Valerie Vili took out the top award at the Westpac Halberg Awards in Auckland last night.
Vili, also named Sportswoman of the Year, promised that she would be competing at many Olympics to come. She is the first woman to win the top prize
- the Halberg Award - in consecutive years and the second woman to win it twice.
The athlete, who Sir Murray Halberg predicted would be our greatest-ever Olympian, said: "It has been an awesome year. What a way to top it off.
"I am looking forward to more world championships and Olympics. I will continue to keep doing what I am doing. It is obviously working."
Vili, 24, was visibly moved in thanking her coach Kirsten Hellier, who won Coach of the Year. The pair have been working together for more than 10 years - since Vili was a teenager.
Vili said: "I don't have the words to express the gifts and time she has given me."
Olympians dominated the 58th awards held at the Vector Arena, with double sculls gold medallists Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell winning Team of the Year ahead of the All Blacks and Kiwis.
Sportsman of the Year was Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon, while the emerging talent category was won by 18-year-old Winter X Games free-skiing medal prospect Jossi Wells.
Roll of honour
2008 Halberg Award: Valerie Vili (athletics)
Sportsman of the Year: Scott Dixon (motor racing)
Sportswoman of the Year: Valerie Vili
Sports Team of the Year: Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell (rowing)
Coach of the Year: Kirsten Hellier (athletics)
Emerging Talent Award: Jossi Wells (skiing)
