Manson wins ANOC Award
Robbie Manson has been honored at the ANOC (Association of National Olympic Committees) Awards in Prague this morning, being awarded the Oceania Male Athlete of the Year for 2017.
The event was created in order to recognise achievements of each National Olympic Committee and their athletes, as well as distinguished members of the Olympic Family. The award was presented to Robbie by IOC member and Olympic Gold medallist (Montreal, 1976) Barry Maister.
Manson said it was a huge honour to be at the awards amongst some amazing athletes, both past and present, and because of that was surprised and proud to be receiving the award.
Manson, who has just completed his first year competing in the men’s single scull, racked up a number of outstanding achievements over the 2017 season. In his first international race in the single Manson took the field by storm and not only won gold at World Cup II in Poznan, he also set a new world best time of 6:30.74. – 3 seconds faster than the previous world best time set by fellow kiwi, Mahe Drysdale. Robbie then went on to win another gold at World Cup III, and took 5 th place at the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota, Florida.
It doesn’t stop there for Manson, who has his eyes set firmly on his future in the single. He is now back training with the “big goal being Tokyo in 2020”.
Sarah Goss, captain of the Black Ferns Sevens team, won the ANOC Oceania Female Athlete of the Year.
A huge congratulations to both Robbie and Sarah for their ANOC Awards and their success in 2017.