• Howick and Pakuranga Times
At the 2009 Westpac Halberg Awards in Auckland last Thursday, Vili collected the Supreme award after winning the Sportswoman of the Year prize.
The Olympic and world champion shot put champion, who has been undefeated for two years, was jubilant at the Halbergs.
“Last season was tough emotionally and physically,” said Vili, when accepting her sportswoman title.
“Thanks to the New Zealand public for their support. I do my sport for love and nothing else. I have been competing since I was 14 and the journey has only just begun.
“2009 was a pretty big year with winning the women’s world [outdoor shot put] title. I focus on training smart, cover all the bases and do what we do best.”
The Pakuranga Athletic Club member was asked at the ceremony what she likes doing for the community, to which she replied she enjoys being an ambassador for Hospice South Auckland and trying to get funding for it.
“And I just love to relax, hang out at home. I like being a normal human being,” said Vili.
“Am I going to be part of history? You will have to ask my grandkids that.”
She was also overwhelmed when collecting the country’s most important sports prize, the Supreme award.
“Holy scheissen. I can’t say it in English, so I will just have to say it in German.
“Thank you so much. I have won the Halberg [Supreme award] for the past three years. It is incredible. I’m very privileged and honoured.
“This is not my kind of scene [award ceremonies], but I have made an effort to make myself decent.
“I dedicate this award to my coach [Kirsten Hellier]. I enjoy training hard to represent this beautiful nation of New Zealand.”
Hellier was a finalist in the Coach of the Year category at the Halbergs, but that prize went to rowing’s Richard Tonks.
Vili paid tribute to Hellier: “It’s been an awesome journey. You’ve been my coach for 11 years. You’re my coach of the year, you’re my coach of the decade, you’re my coach forever and ever, and I hope that our journey will continue.
“My coach and I have been like an untold marriage – we spend more time with each other than we do our own husbands – I don’t know if that is good or bad.
“You’re an awesome woman and I so value the time that you give and put into me as an athlete, and also to the other throwers who are coming up,” said Vili.
Meanwhile, the authoritative United States magazine Track & Field News has named Vili number three — up from number nine in 2008 — in its top 10 women in athletics for 2009, as well as number one in shot put.
In the top athletes of the decade, the magazine has named Vili at number 10.
2009 Halberg Award: Valerie Vili (athletics)
Sportsman of the Year: Mahe Drysdale (rowing)
Sportswoman of the Year: Valerie Vili (athletics)
Sports Team of the Year: Eric Murray and Hamish Bond (rowing pairs)
Sports Champion of the Decade: Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell (rowing)
Emerging Talent Award: Sam Webster (cycling)
