2025 has kicked off with continued success for Lydia Ko (NZ Olympian #1298) after an incredible 2024, as she was named a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (DNZM) and awarded the prestigious Lonsdale Cup for 2024.
Dame Lydia, one of New Zealand’s most successful Olympians, made history by completing her Olympic medal collection at Paris 2024. In recognition of her outstanding achievements, she received the Lonsdale Cup – NZOC’s top sporting honour – for the second time.
NZOC Board Member Glen Sowry (Oly #848) presented the award to Ko at the end of last year in Queenstown, celebrating a year that cemented her legacy in New Zealand sport.
More recently, Ko picked up the Supreme Award at the 62nd Halberg Awards before winning the LPGA Tour Women’s World Championship title in Singapore, her 23rd career title.
Finn Butcher claimed silver at the Oceania Canoe Slalom Championships in January.
Alice Robinson has had an impressive run over the past few months, making history for New Zealand skiing. She claimed gold at the Kronplatz Giant Slalom World Cup and became the first New Zealander to win a medal at the FIS Alpine World Championships, earning silver in the Giant Slalom. She continued her podium streak with another silver at the Ski World Cup in Sestriere. It’s been a remarkable stretch for Alice, and she continues to perform at a high level.
Luca Harrington has put together a strong season, consistently earning podium finishes and making a name for himself in freeskiing. He dominated at the Kreischberg FIS Freeski Big Air, taking the win and jumping to the top of the 2025 Big Air World Cup standings. At the X Games, he had a solid debut, winning gold in Slopestyle and silver in Big Air, where he landed a triple corked 2160 tail. He also made history alongside Ben Barclay for New Zealand snow sports by finishing second at the FIS Freeski Slopestyle World Cup, marking the first time two Kiwi athletes have shared a podium at a Park & Pipe World Cup event.
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott has been making history and stacking medals this season. She claimed silver at the LAAX Open, landing a switch backside 1260 – the first time this trick has been done in a women’s slopestyle competition. She then won gold at X Games in Slopestyle and became the first woman to land a triple cork in competition. That win brought her X Games medal count to an incredible 11. To top it off, she also grabbed gold at the Aspen Snowboard Slopestyle World Cup.
Ainsley Thorpe made the podium at the World Triathlon Cup in Napier this month.
Tiaan Whelpton left, Maia Ramsden right
Tiaan Whelpton smashed a new PB of 10.10 in the Men’s 100m at the Sir Graeme Douglas International in Auckland during February, making it a NZ Residents Record of the fastest 100m run by a Kiwi in Aotearoa!
Maia Ramsden ran down the old NZ record of 4.24.14 held by Kim Smith, at the BU Last Chance Meet in Boston - breaking both the NZ Indoor and Outdoor mile records! Her time goes under the World Indoor Championships Entry Standard of 4.22.50. The record is pending official ratification, and her world indoors spot is pending selection.
Dan Hillier has earned himself a second place finish at the Dubai Desert World Tour.
Bryony Botha left, Ally Wollaston right
Over in the cycling world Bryony Botha has broken the Women's 4000m Individual Pursuit world record at the Oceania Championships—then beat her own time the next day. Ellesse Andrews also broke the world record in the Women’s Kilo at the Oceania Championships with an incredible time of 1:04.697. Ally Wollaston claimed her first World Tour win in a sprint finish and secured another victory for her new UCI team, FDJ Suez, at the Surf Coast Classic. Meanwhile, Aaron Gate and Laurence Pithie landed on the podium with second and third-place finishes.