The Otago Sports Awards were held at the Edgar Centre on Friday 14 June, where the region's biggest sporting names come together to celebrate another successful year on the international and domestic stages. It was a big night for swimming, with Swimming Otago members taking out three awards.

Erika Fairweather (Neptune) was the star of the evening, winning Otago Junior Sportswoman of the Year and receiving the honour of being named the Supreme Award recipient. Notably, Fairweather is the first ever junior athlete to win the Supreme Award - which is presented to the most exceptional of all award winners on the night. Both awards were well deserved, with Erika having an incredible past 12 months in the pool where she collected four World Championship medals, including New Zealand's first ever long course World Championships title, maintained an undefeated streak across the 400m Freestyle at the World Cup series, and broke three individual New Zealand Records plus two New Zealand Relay Records.

Lars Humer (Swim Dunedin) was also recognised, taking out the Coach of the Year category. Not only has Humer guided Fairweather to her success over the past 12 months, he has continued to make significant gains across the wider Swim Dunedin squad. Check out some of Humer's major accomplishments over the past 12 months:

• Guided four athletes (Erika Fairweather, Caitlin Deans, Luan Grobbelaar, Zac Reid) onto 2023 World Championships squad
• 1 x Bronze medal at 2023 World Championships (Fairweather)
• 3 x Gold medal, 4 x Silver medal, 2 x Bronze medal at 2023 World Cup series (Fairweather & Deans)
• Guided two athletes (Fairweather, Deans) onto 2024 World Championships squad
• 1 x Gold, 1 x Silver, 1 x Bronze at 2024 World Championships (Fairweather)
• 1 x Silver medal at 2024 Oceania Championships (Esme Paterson)
• Guided three athletes (Fairweather, Deans, Kane Follows) onto 2024 Olympic squad
• Guided athletes to break six New Zealand Records (four individual + two relay)

Neither Fairweather nor Humer were able to attend the awards ceremony in person, however Swim Dunedin coaches Michelle Summers and Gabby Trotter accepted the awards on their behalf.

Article added: Tuesday 18 June 2024