Last week at the Auckland Hilton’s Bellini Bar, invited guests celebrated the M2 Champagne Bollinger Man Of The Year 2016 and M2woman Champagne Bollinger Woman Of The Year 2016.
Sponsored by Champagne Bollinger, Mont Blanc, Givenchy, Adecco and Audi, the night recognised two individuals who are proving that you can achieve whatever you set your mind to, on the track or on world stages.
The M2 Champagne Bollinger Man of the Year 2016 went to 2 x gold and 1 x silver medal winning Paralympian and blade running record breaker Liam Malone.
Finishing his speech with a nod to climate change and his future plans to climb Mount Cook Liam also expressed the honour of being named this year’s M2 Man of the Year. He also spoke of not defining himself by disability and his ambition of becoming the world’s fastest man full stop. “The idea is for the Paralympics to make the able bodied Olympics look like the Antiques Roadshow“.
Liam attended his first Paralympics at Rio this year, taking home gold in men’s 200 metres T44, 400 metres T44 and silver in the men’s 100 metres T44. Not only did he take home three medals, but he achieved Paralympic record time.
Past winners of the M2 Man of the Year have been Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Taika Waititi, Marc Ellis, Scott Dixon and Dean Barker.
Photos from the evening: http://www.m2now.co.nz/3-photos-m2-champagne-bollinger-man-year-awards-2016/