Scott Dixon could be awarded the New Zealand Sportsman of the Decade at tonight’s Halberg Awards.
The annual event will look slightly different from previous years, with the Covid-19 pandemic forcing the 2020 rendition to be cancelled.
It means that tonight’s award will celebrate sporting achievements over the last decade (2010 – 2019). Previous winners of the supreme award, sportsman and sportswoman of the year, will vie to be crowned the champion of the decade.
Dixon was awarded New Zealand’s Sportsman of the year in 2013 following his third IndyCar title. Since then, the Kiwi has won a further three championships and is currently the third most winningest driver in IndyCar history.
Last year, he was runner-up in the Indy 500, having led most of the race.
His achievements in the sport have cemented him as one of IndyCar’s all-time greats. This season he could match A.J Foyt’s long-standing record of seven series titles.
Dixon will be up against the likes of ex-Rugby World Cup-winning captain Richie McCaw, celebrated cricketers Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson, and Olympic medallists’ Mahe Drysdale and Tom Walsh.
Unfortunately for motorsport fans, Dixon is the discipline’s sole representative in tonight’s awards.
2020 was a super year for Kiwis racing on the world stage. Scott McLaughlin capped off his third successive Supercars championship and Shane van Gisbergen claimed a maiden Bathurst 1000 victory. Brendon Hartley added a second Le Mans win to his name while Courtney Duncan became a two-time MotoCross world champion.
These achievements will be honoured at the next Halberg ceremony a year from now.
The 2021 Halberg Decade Champions ceremony will be televised live on Prime from 8.30 pm.
if it doesn’t involve a ball batt or boat it will never happen