Valerie Vili has captured New Zealand's ultimate sporting prize, the Halberg Award, for a third consecutive year, while Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell have been crowned Sports Champions of the Decade. 
Vili, the 25-year-old World, Olympic, Commonwealth and New Zealand shot-put champion emerged the big winner at the Halberg Awards on Thursday night, taking the Sportswoman of the year category, before taking the supreme award.
In so doing she became the second person behind Rob Waddell to complete a hat-trick of Halberg Awards, and the first female to capture the trophy three times.
Vili headed off Sportsman of the Year, Mahe Drysdale, and Sports Team of the Year, Eric Murray and Hamish Bond, for the supreme prize.
Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell completed a golden night for rowing when they were announced as the Sports Champions of the Decade. Back-to-back double scull Olympic gold medals by the Swindells gave them the edge over the other contenders.
The Emerging Talent category, which comes with a $15,000 scholarship from Westpac New Zealand, was awarded to Sam Webster, winner of an unprecedented hat-trick of titles last year at the under-19 World Cycling Championships.
Dick Tonks, who coached Drysdale and the men's pair to World Championship titles, won the Coach of the Year category.
At the awards ceremony two former New Zealand champions were also inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame. Athletes Allison Roe, winner of the New York and Boston marathons and Barry Magee, winner of the Olympic marathon bronze in 1960 were presented with their awards by Dame Susan Devoy and Sir John Walker.
The 2009 finalists and winners are as follows:
2009 Halberg Award: Valerie Vili (athletics)
Mahe Drysdale (Sportsman of the Year)
Valerie Vili (Sportswoman of the Year)
Eric Murray and Hamish Bond, Men's Pair (Sports Team of the Year)
Sports Champion of the Decade: Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell (rowing)
Rob Waddell (2000)
Caroline and Georgina Evers Swindell (2001)
Tall Blacks (2002)
Silver Ferns (2003)
Sarah Ulmer (2004)
Michael Campbell (2005)
Mahe Drysdale (2006)
Valerie Vili (2007, 08 & 09)
Sportsman of the Year: Mahe Drysdale (rowing)
Scott Dixon (motor sport)
Mahe Drysdale (rowing)
Duncan Grant (rowing)
Richie McCaw (rugby)
Daniel Vettori (cricket)
Sportswoman of the Year: Valerie Vili (athletics)
Sophie Pascoe (swimming)
Alison Shanks (cycling)
Valerie Vili (athletics)
Sarah Walker (cycling)
Sports Team of the Year: Men's Pair (rowing)
All Whites (football)
Men's Pair (rowing)
Lightweight Double Scull (rowing)
Women's 420 (sailing)
Coach of the Year: Richard Tonks (rowing)
Ricki Herbert (football)
Kirsten Hellier (athletics)
Tim Carswell (cycling)
Richard Tonks (rowing)
Emerging Talent Award: Sam Webster (cycling)
Sam Webster (cycling)
Aaron Cruden (rugby)
Sam Meech (sailing)
Robbie Manson (rowing)
Source: TVNZ