Emma Foy and Hannah Van Kampen have shown incredible performance over the past year in tandem cycling. After riding together for less than a year, the duo won gold and the World Championship title in the Women’s B 3km Individual Pursuit and placed third in the Women’s B 1km Time Trial in the Netherlands in March 2019. In September, they went on to win gold and the World Championship title in the Women’s B Individual Road Race and silver in the Women’s B Individual Time Trial. This is an incredible achievement to medal at both a Track and Road World Championship as typically Para cycling athletes will target either sprint events, or endurance events.

The Blind Sport New Zealand Volunteer of the Year recognises and gives thanks for the time, energy and commitment of an outstanding volunteer within the blind and low vision sports community. Vicki Fleming uses her athletic ability to help support the sporting achievements as a guide in Para triathlon. She commits up to 20 hours a week throughout the year to as well as spends weekends racing throughout New Zealand and overseas.

Damian Wiseman has recently moved to the Para cycling space after almost 6 years with Cycling New Zealand. He has been described as ‘very caring’ and someone who ‘puts the interests and care of the athletes first and foremost’. This, along with his extensive track cycling knowledge, strong science background and his knowledge of the physiological side of the sport is second to none. He has also been described as ‘always thinking outside of the box, with an incredible ability to want to innovate and look at doing things differently’. Damian currently coaches a number of Para athletes and Paralympians including our Supreme Winners Emma Foy & Hannah Van Kampen and the STA Travel Emerging Talent Award winner Mitchell Wilson.

The STA Travel Emerging Talent award recognises an emerging athlete who has the potential to perform at the highest level of their sport. Mitchell made his international debut in March this year and continues to go from strength to strength in tandem cycling. With the support of pilot Jackson Ogle, the duo completed their first UCI Para Cycling Track World Championships placing 8th in the Men’s B 200m Sprint. Mitchell has also been selected for the 2020 UCI Para Cycling Track World Championships in Canada early in 2020.

After retiring from competitive swimming in late 2018, Mary Fisher has gone on to demonstrate her incredible strengths outside the pool. In April 2019, she was appointed to the Paralympics New Zealand Board and has been selected to represent New Zealand Paralympians and Para athletes at the International Paralympic Committee Athletes Commission. Along with all of this, she is a Trustee for the Halberg Foundation, involved with the Access Matters Campaign and works at Blind and Low Vision NZ in Wellington to support their volunteers within the local community.