Cycling: Ulmer wins Olympic award

World and Olympic cycling champion Sarah Ulmer has won the Lonsdale Cup.

The annual award is made by the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) to the athlete who has made the most outstanding contribution to an Olympic or Commonwealth Games sport during the year.

Ulmer had an unforgettable year, winning gold in the 3000m individual pursuit at the world championships in Melbourne in May, setting a world record time in the process and then taking the Olympic gold medal in Athens, bettering her own world record there.

NZOC secretary general Barry Maister said Ulmer was most deserving of the award.

"New Zealand had a wonderful Olympic Games, including our five medals and many more top eight finishes, but Sarah's exploits over the year were nothing short of outstanding," he said in a statement.

"And while Sarah's talents on a bike are undoubted, she also contributes a great deal to the Olympic Movement in New Zealand, and sport in general away from the track.

"Sarah is a highly valued member of the NZOC's Athletes Commission and is also a member of the Oceania National Olympic Committee's Athletes Commission," Maister said.

Ulmer won Lonsdale Cup also in 2002 and follows in the footsteps of other cyclists, Harry Kent (1970), Anthony Cuff (1980) and Gary Anderson (1990) to win the trophy.

- NZPA