Triple Olympic medallist Barbara Kendall will be the Guest Speaker for this year’s 2018 South Canterbury Sports Awards. 

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Kendall has established a name as one of New Zealand’s most enduring sporting legends. She originally took up boardsailing as a 17-year-old in 1984 as a “fun way to see the world.”

When Kendall won the hearts of Kiwis with her gold medal in Barcelona, she put a relatively little known sport onto the national radar. Having only recently recovered from a broken wrist, Kendall claimed what would be New Zealand’s only gold medal in 1992.

The Papakura-born boardsailer became the first New Zealand woman to win Olympic gold since Yvette Williams 40 years earlier.

“Barbara will speak as someone who appreciates sporting success; she will also comment as someone who has overcome tremendous odds and set the benchmark for women in sport, and New Zealanders around the world.”

Following the birth of Kendall’s first child in 2001, Kendall regained the world crown at the age of 36, earning selection for her fourth successive Olympics. She was inducted into the International Sailing Hall of Fame in 2007.

“We are grateful to have Stratford Farms as our speaker sponsor this year and are  thrilled to bring Barbara’s perspective on sport and lifetime achievement to an event that means a great deal to South Canterbury,” Campbell adds.

This awards evening is a major event on the sporting calendar in the South Canterbury region, highlighting the achievements of athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and the sports themselves.

2018 South Canterbury Sports Awards

Friday 18 May, from 6pm

The Southern Trust Events Centre, Morgans Road, Timaru

For ticket information, please contact Sport Canterbury’s South Canterbury Regional Office, 03 686 0751