Shooting Star Nets Police Asn Sportsperson of Year

Media Release
EMBARGOED UNTIL PRESENTATION
4:00PM 6 September 2007

POLICE SHOOTING STAR NETS NZ POLICE ASSOCIATION POLICE SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR

It has been said that once you see a game of Wheelchair Basketball you understand what sporting commitment really looks like. The game is hard and the upper-body strength required, is enormous. Strength, commitment and sporting talent, is something Police member Michelle Nunn, Captain of the NZ Women's Wheel Chair Basketball Team - the Wheel Ferns, and this year's recipient of the Police Association Police Sportsperson of the year award, has in abundance.

Award sponsor NZ Police Association Vice-President, Stuart Mills said, "Michelle is an extremely accomplished athlete. Not only has she represented New Zealand in wheelchair basketball since 2001, she has won numerous gold, silver and bronze medals for NZ in Track and Field. This includes a silver medal in 200m track in 2002 and in 1999, a gold in the 100m and silver in 200m track, at the FESPIC Games – the biggest multi-sports & multi-disability games in Asia and South Pacific region and the second largest games in the world, after the Paralympic Games."

"Michelle also qualified for the 2006 Athletics World Champs in Holland in shot put and, with one year to go to the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, Michelle will be an athlete to watch."

Mr Mills went on to say, "The immense commitment, training and determination that competing at this level takes, is something all high-level sports achievers will appreciate. Certainly these are sought-after, highly-valued qualities in members of Police."

Invercargill based, Michelle was selected from eight nominations nationwide. "This award acknowledges not just Michelle's achievements on the NZ and world sporting stage, but the respect her fellow police colleagues have of her outstanding accomplishment," said Mr Mills.

Since joining the Police, Michelle says she has had amazing support from her colleagues and supervisors, right through to the Police Council of Sport.

"One of the main things I love about basketball is the team environment – supporting, encouraging and helping each other, and all working towards a common goal. I have been lucky enough to have this sense of team-work mirrored off-court by those in the New Zealand Police."

"It has just been fantastic to feel recognised and acknowledged by my colleagues and to know I am part of a great team, both on and off the court."

As well as captaining the NZ Women's Wheel Chair Basketball Team - the Wheel Ferns, Michelle was asked to play for the Knox Raiders team in Victoria and is the first women to be asked to play in the Australian Basketball League.

Michelle says that though she has had to sing 'Advance Australia Fair' and flying out of Invercargill straight after work, then back on a Sunday night in time for work on Monday morning can be a bit of a challenge, playing in the Australian wheelchair basketball women's league has been great experience, exposing her to a higher level of play.

She has been able to return home and share her knowledge to benefit New Zealand wheelchair basketball. "I have come back with new coaching drills, game plans and strategies learnt from the best players over there."

After gaining a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation in 2002, Michelle has also become increasingly involved in sports administration, coaching young athletes and has taken a leading role in developing wheelchair athletics and basketball in Southland.

NZ Police Sportsperson of Year award background: From 2002, the NZ Police Association have sponsored the Police Sportsperson of the Year Award, acknowledging the outstanding national sporting excellence achieved by members of Police. For over 35 years, this award has recognised members of Police who have excelled at their sport at a national level and is organised by the Police Council of Sport.

Previous nominees and recipients include: Cowboy Action Shooting World Champion Tracey Ball; NZ Black Cap cricketer Shane Bond, Atlantic Rowers Steve Westlake and Matt Goodman, Silver Fern Jenny-May Coffin, All Blacks Murray Pierce, John Gallagher and Blair Larsen, Kiwi rugby league star Sam Stewart, All White Roger Gray, hockey internationals Shane Collins, Scott Anderson and Karen Smith, cricketer Sarah Illingworth, lawn bowler Phil Skoglund, triathlete Steve Farrell, athlete Andrew Collins and martial artist Karen Vaughan.

ENDS

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