Guy Heveldt and Laura McGoldrick dish out their predictions on who this year's Halberg award winners will be.
Who will be crowned the best of the best at tonight's Halberg Awards? The Herald breaks down the key categories and attempts to work out who will win take home the gongs.
Sportsman of the year
The nominees Joseph Parker (Boxing) Mahe Drysdale (Rowing) Nick Willis (Athletics) Tom Walsh (Athletics)
The skinny: It's Olympic medalsvs a boxing world heavyweight title. What works in favour of the Olympians is that there is just one Olympic, not four. Gold medals trump all. That's been the way since 1896. Drysdale has previously won the category four times as well as the supreme award in 2006.
Mahe Drysdale won his second gold in Rio. Photo / Photosport
Sportswoman of the year
The nominees Lisa Carrington (Canoeing) Luuka Jones (Canoeing) Lydia Ko (Golf) Valerie Adams (Athletics)
The skinny: Carrington became the first New Zealand female to claim multiple medals at an Olympics while Adams, seven time winner of the category, fell just short of winning three straight golds. Ko, three time Halberg winner, is the world number on in a very popular sport and claimed her second career major, while finishing top three in two others. It is the fifth straight year Carrington has been nominated - she has never won. Adams is a three-time winner of the supreme award and Ko was supreme winner in 2013.
We say: Carrington 8 votes, Ko 4 votes Herald readers say: Carrington 65% Ko 28% Adams 4% Jones 3%
Lisa Carrington won gold and bronze in Rio. Photo / Ben Fraser
Sports team of the year
The nominees Men's 49er - Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (Yachting) Men's Pair - Hamish Bond and Eric Murray (Rowing) Team Sprint - Eddie Dawkins, Ethan Mitchell and Sam Webster (Cycling) Women's 470 - Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (Yachting).
The skinny: It's a two-way battle between the gold medallists - Bond and Murray and Burling and Tuke. Both dominated their respective events not just at the Olympics but also during the entire year. Bond and Murray are three-time winners of the category.
We say: Bond and Murray 7 votes, Burling and Tuke 5 votes Herald readers say: Bond and Murray 60% Burling and Tuke 37% Team sprint 2% Aleh and Powrie 1%
And the winner is...Bond and Murray
Hamish Bond and Eric Murray won gold in the men's pairs in Rio. Photosport
Disabled Sportsperson of the Year
The skinny: Another two-way battle in New Zealand's own version of the Bolt v Phelps debate. Malone claimed two golds and a silver on the track while Pascoe won three golds and two silvers. Pascoe has won the award four of the last five years.
The nominees Anna Grimaldi (Para-Athletics) Liam Malone (Para-Athletics) Mary Fisher (Para-Swimming) Sophie Pascoe (Para-Swimming).
And the winner is...Liam Malone (but it could be close)
Liam Malone (right) winning gold in the 200mT44 at the Rio Paralympics. Photosport
Coach of the Year
The nominees Gordon Walker (Canoeing) Hamish Willcox (Yachting) Jeremy McColl (Athletics) Steve Hansen (Rugby)
The skinny: The Hansen coached All Blacks were dominant all season with the exception of the Chicago defeat to Ireland. McColl was key behind Eliza McCartney's bronze medal effort at the Rio Games. Willcox and Walker coached gold medallists in Rio. Hansen won coach of the year in 2013 and 2015.
