Whangārei’s Cameron Leslie earns Halberg Award as Para Athlete of the Year

Whangārei swimmer and wheelchair rugby player Cameron Leslie is a multi-Paralympion and world Para swimming champion, and reckons winning a Halberg Award - as he did this week - is about as good as it gets.

Whangārei para swimmer and wheelchair rugby player Cameron Leslie never thought he would win one of New Zealand’s premier sporting accolades despite being a multiple world champion.

But on Wednesday night he did just that. Leslie was named Para Athlete of the Year at the 61st Halberg Awards in recognition of his success at the Para World Champs, where he won a gold medal, two silvers, and a bronze.

He is the world record-holder and three-time Paralympic gold medallist in the Men’s Individual Medley 150m SM4 and a multiple Para swimming world champion.

Leslie (Ngāpuhi) also co-captained the Wheel Blacks at the International Wheelchair Rugby World Cup in Paris, France.

He said he was totally surprised when his name was announced as a Halberg winner.

“I’d often said I’d never win a Halberg, but this is not too bad for a boy who trained at the Whangārei Aquatic Centre.”

Leslie said it was cool to see the hard work of Para athletes recognised.

He credited the Whangārei Swimming Club and coach Tom Onley with helping him achieve success. Last year, Leslie was one of six finalists for the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability award, based in Paris.

The father of three acknowledged the support of his family , his wife Em and her family.

And while he is a big deal in the sporting world, his children keep him grounded.

“I mean, when the kids see me [after winning awards], they just want me to pick them up from daycare and don’t really worry about much else. It’s magic, and they just want to spend time with me.”

As well as being a Para swimmer and wheelchair rugby player Cameron Leslie is involved in a lot of community work - he's pictured here launching the Seeing is Believing campaign through playing goalball at Scott Point Primary School last year.

Leslie said having a Halberg is the greatest sporting accolade he could get in New Zealand. He was proud and humbled to be alongside the many other great Kiwi athletes to win a Halberg.

“There are so many incredible Para athletes coming through, so I’m lucky to still be able to perform at this level.”

Leslie, who is the national Para swimming development co-ordinator, takes his position as a role model very seriously. Last year he launched the Paralympic education programme, Seeing is Believing.

His next focus is the World Wheelchair Rugby Paralympic Qualification Tournament in Wellington next month.

“We’ve won the rights to host the qualifiers here, which is just massive for us. Many of us players have major impairments and need a lot of help and support, and the players’ families will have gone through a some trauma with them.

“So it’s great that those whānau will now have the chance to see us compete on the world stage, and at home.”

There is also a Paralympic swimming qualifying competition, and if all goes well, he will be off to Paris to compete in swimming and wheelchair rugby at the Paralympics.