Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
🎄 Meri Kirihimete 🎄
Year in Review: Most outstanding Kiwi sportsman of 2025
Sport Nation •  December 25th, 2025 7:50 am
Photo: Photosport
With a blockbuster 12 months of sports in the rear-view mirror, what better way to wind up than by reflecting on some of the stellar achievements of a memorable year of Kiwi excellence.
Today, the Sport Nation crew cast their vote for their best Kiwi sportsman of 2025.
Hayden Wilde
Robbie McFarlane, Scotty & Izzy producer: Wilde delivered one of the most complete and compelling seasons by a New Zealander on the world stage.
He capped off 2025 by being crowned T100 World Triathlon Champion, sealing the overall title in emphatic fashion with victory in the series finale in Qatar. In brutal conditions, he showcased his trademark strength on the run to pull clear and win, securing his sixth victory of the season and underlining his dominance across the series.
What elevates his year beyond results alone is the adversity he overcame to achieve them. After winning the opening race in Singapore, his season was almost derailed by a horrific bike crash in Japan where he was struck by a truck. Remarkably, Wilde returned to competition in less than 100 days, producing a stunning comeback win at the T100 London race.
He went on to claim further victories on the French Riviera, in Spain and in Wollongong, turning resilience into excellence and cementing 2025 as a defining year in his career.
Sam Ackerman, Scotty & Izzy producer: I am torn on this - mainly because there are some incredible performances that deserve recognition. What Ryan Fox achieved with two PGA wins was unreal, Shane van Gisbergen's rise in NASCAR should not be underestimated, Hamish Kerr and Geordie Beamish were nothing short of sensational with Athletics World Champs gold.
But the sportsman of the year should go to someone who was consistently spectacular across the year, overcame adversity that would have felled mere mortals and did it with determination and Kiwi charm. What Hayden Wilde pulled off in 2025 - driven by the missed golden Olympic opportunity and getting back on the bike weeks after being hit by a truck - is everything we love about sport. What a weapon.
Jacob Scott, Afternoons producer: Hayden epitomizes what it is to be a Kiwi.
Overcoming adversity mid-way through the year - suffering 6 broken ribs and damaging his lungs in a nasty bike crash - to win effectively every T100 race on the calendar (Dubai incident aside).
What an inspiration.
Stephen Foote, digital producer: Wilde put his Olympic heartbreak behind him and lapped the field in 2025. With heart almost as big as his lungs, the loveable Whakatane-bred larrikin, turned us all into believers.
Kiwi triathlete Hayden Wilde comes clean over that Strava pic | Scotty & Izzy
Sam Ruthe
Mark Stafford, Afternoons host: This young man is nothing short of phenomenal.
Youngest in history to break both the 4 min mile and the 8min 3000m, fastest ever 15-year-old over 1500m. The list goes on.
His heat time of 3:38 in the 1500m at secondary schools champs broke a 36-year-old national record. In modern times, beating a middle distance record by two seconds is quite something. To beat it by 8 seconds is…… choose your own word.
Having turned 16 this year he still holds the all time worlds best times for a 15-year-old over 1500m, a mile, and 3000m.Â
We have something very special brewing in this young man. If you have a chance to go and watch him at an athletics event this summer, do it. Just do it. And maybe start saving for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Ryan Fox
Henry Lee, Millsy & Guy producer: You get the feeling he's only a couple of tournaments away from a major victory, which would just be incredible for someone from such a small nation.
That victory at the Myrtle Beach Classic and Canadian Open will go down as one of the moments of the year.
Ryan Fox's ongoing support home and abroad | Sport Nation
Hamish Kerr
Alex Chapman: Mornings co-host: Finding an athlete who’s a good person, accessible, great on air talent, and successful, can often be like gold dust. That’s not to slander anyone, but Hamish Kerr is among the few.
His journey has been a long one. He’s been at times an absolute battler, and struggled for consistency and confidence.
But to build off his Olympic gold in Paris by winning his first world championship title, reinforced that he belongs. The Flying Kiwi can’t be caught.
Izzy Dagg sits down with Hamish Kerr and Tom Walsh over a feed of fish and chips | Sport Nation
Shane van Gisbergen
Logan Swinkels, digital lead: SVG is the king of NASCAR’s street circuits and that’s a beautiful thing!
The Kiwi racing phenom picked up wins at Chicago, Mexico City, Sonoma, Watkins Glen and Charlotte as he challenges Jeff Gordon’s record for consecutive road course wins. JG had six, SVG is one off from equalling.
He’s challenging the Americans at their own game and injecting his own flavour with the now traditional punting of a rugby ball into the crowd to celebrate each win. Once he masters the oval tracks, it’ll be game over for everyone else.
Izzy Dagg's kicking tips for SVG | Scotty & Izzy
Steven Adams
Finn James, Millsy & Guy producer: There is likely a heavy bias here because of my love and passion for basketball but I genuinely believe Steven Adams is the best Kiwi sportsman the country has, after stringing together a very important role for the Houston Rockets in both the NBA seasons that have crossed over in 2025.
At 32 years old, you’d think he would be at the very backend of his NBA career, but he has found ways to impact the game better than anyone else in the NBA. Adams is the best screen-setter and best rebounder in the NBA and is currently on track for a historical season where he could finish with the highest offensive rebounding percentage in league history, ahead of Dennis Rodman.
Riccardo Ball, Mornings co-host: I know he didn't play a heap last season due to injury, but this year he's been on fire this season for the Houston Rockets, earning praise from luminaries like Space Jam 2 star LeBron James.
"If you play Houston, one of the main focuses is Steven Adams. You need the whole team, plus the bench and the coaching staff and your security team, to box him out," James said on his podcast. "He’s the strongest guy. Oh my god, he’s ridiculously strong. You can’t box him out with two people."
Adams is averaging 9.2 rebounds per game with an average court time of 21.8 minutes. For every four shots missed, Adams is collecting the ball once and dominating the paint at both ends of the court.
Kiwi big man Steven Adams made a huge impact from Houston's bench | Photo: AP
