KEY POINTS:
What price has Valerie Vili being acclaimed New Zealand's supreme athlete of the year?
You don't need to be a student of past Halberg Awards to realise she will be at extremely short odds.
When the Halberg Awards are announced early next year, tradition dictates that an Olympian will receive the supreme award. Going back to Peter Snell for his 800m gold medal in Rome in 1960, summer Olympians have been awarded the country's top sporting honour in every Olympic year bar one.
The exception was skier Annelise Coberger for her stunning slalom silver medal at the Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, in 1992.
Otherwise the list looks like a rollcall of some of New Zealand's great names: John Walker, the 1972 rowing eight, Mark Todd, Danyon Loader,Rob Waddell and Sarah Ulmeramong them.
In assessing New Zealand's supreme award contenders there are three Olympic performances _ Vili for her shot put gold, Tom Ashley, who put New Zealand boardsailing back on top of the world, and Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell for completing back-to-back double sculls gold _ which will attract most interest.
There will be those with a soft spot for Nick Willis' outstanding third in the classic 1500m, in which New Zealand has a proud history. However, on that basis Hayden Roulston's superb silver for the individual pursuit must also be in the frame.
Scott Dixon, winner of the Indianapolis 500 and on the verge of clinching the Indy Racing League crown, will have his vocal supporters.
His has been a terrific year. But the dice are rolling against him, not for any negative aspect about his performance, more that the Olympics capture the imagination.
The point is, if Dixon had done what he has this season next year, he'd be a royal chance to stand on the top rung of New Zealand sport.
It's a tough call, as it is for any outstanding non-Olympic New Zealand sportsperson in an Olympic year.
