By Dave Crampton, Swimming World contributor
New Zealand paraswimmer Mary Fisher is the Wellington Sportswoman of the Year for the second successive year on the back of multiple successes on both the national and international stage.
She was also named the Disabled Sportsperson of the Year for the third year running at a star-studded gala event in New Zealand’s capital city.
Fisher, who has limited sight perception, said she was honoured and humbled to receive the awards again.
“It’s good to celebrate with a bunch of different sportspeople. As athletes we are so focused on our sport so it’s wonderful having awards nights.”
In December, Fisher won the Supreme Attitude Award, at a ceremony celebrating achievements of New Zealanders living with a disability. She followed that with her first national Halberg Award as the Disabled Sportsperson of the Year.
At the 2014 Pan-Pacific Championships in California last August, she got six of the nine world titles the New Zealand team achieved, and ended the year ranked first in all six long-course events and five short-course events in her S11 category.
But her most pleasing performances were in Wellington in front of her friends.
“The highlights were the short course world records – 50m butterfly and 400m freestyle – in Wellington. My non-swimming friends can easily come in and watch (there)”.
Fisher will also be a hot favourite when she heads off to the IPC world champs in Glasgow next month, as returning champion in five events. She is hoping to beat her own world record times, and will be pushed.
“I think the competition will be much closer this time around,” Fisher said. “Whenever I go into any race I always try to swim it to the best of my ability.
“If I can hit my personal bests and focus on technique then hopefully that would get me good times.”