Olympics: Lonsdale Cup to Waddell

Olympic Games rowing gold medallist Rob Waddell has won the coveted Lonsdale Cup from the New Zealand Olympic Committee for the second time in three years.

Waddell won the single sculls at the Sydney Olympics in September.

The NZ Olympic Committee said he also contributed a great deal to the Olympic movement in New Zealand away from the rowing course.

Waddell is a member of the committee's athletes' commission and is an Olympian voice for the committee's humanitarian programmes.

The Lonsdale Cup is awarded annually to the athlete who has made the most outstanding contribution to an Olympic or Commonwealth Games sport for the year.

Waddell was also awarded the cup in 1998 after winning his first world title.

NZ Olympic Committee president John Davies said the decision to award the cup to Waddell was not a difficult one.

"Rob is the Microsoft of world rowing. He showed with his performance at the Sydney Olympic Games just what an outstanding athlete he is.

"He is also a wonderful ambassador for his country and his sport and a strong supporter of the Olympic movement in New Zealand. He is a well deserving recipient of the Lonsdale Cup."

Rowers have won the cup four times in the last eight years.

Brenda Lawson picked up the award in 1993 and Chris White in 1995 before Waddell's double achievement in 1998 and this year.

Board sailor Barbara Kendall won the award last year.

- NZPA