The Sportsperson of the Year, sponsored by Hellers New Zealand’s Butcher, is our supreme award and is presented to our best performing athlete of the year.

William Stedman was announced as the recipient of this year’s award.

William continues to produce outstanding performances at major international competitions. At the Para Athletics World Championships in New Delhi, he won a silver medal in the Long Jump and bronze medal in the 400m.

He is a three-time Paralympian and has won 5 Paralympic medals. He has won multiple medals at World Championships, including the silver and bronze he won this year.

William is one of Canterbury’s and New Zealand’s top athletes, both on and off the sports field, and this is the third consecutive year he has been named the ParaFed Canterbury Sportsperson of the Year.

Click below to view all the previous Sportsperson of the Year recipients: www.parafedcanterbury.co.nz/sportsperson

Article added: Sunday 07 December 2025