Stella Crossan has been named the winner of the sports category at the 2024 Canterbury GirlBoss Awards.

The awards, celebrating trailblazing young female leaders in the Canterbury community, were held at Christchurch’s Town Hall on Tuesday evening.

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Sport Canterbury sponsored the GirlBoss Sports Award, which recognises a wāhine toa who excels on-and-off the field and lifts others as she goes.

Crossan, of Christchurch Girls’ High School, is a kayaker who trains daily to achieve her goals.

She recently showcased her talent on the world stage, representing Aotearoa at the 2024 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships in Bulgaria.

Crossan says she’s also passionate about giving back to the community. In addition to her kayaking feats, she’s also a coach and volunteer lifeguard, while still enjoying competitive netball.

“I strive to be a powerful wāhine and inspire other Māori rangatahi to get involved in sport and to fight stereotypes,” Crossan says.

She says she feels “proud and honoured” to be a GirlBoss Award recipient.

Crossan’s long-term dream is the Olympics. In April, she jumped in a boat with a wāhine with plenty of mana and experience in that field.

“I had the amazing opportunity to race with Dame Lisa Carrington at the [Canoe Sprint] Nationals 2024,” Crossan explains. “I was asked to sit in one of their club boats because they needed another person, and we raced in the 200m open women’s race – coming away with second.

“It was an amazing opportunity - for her to pass on her knowledge and she’s just so lovely,” she says of Dame Lisa.

Sport Canterbury Rangatahi Lead Grace Ward says it’s “amazing” to give young women their moment in the spotlight through the GirlBoss Awards.

“I think what… resonated with me is how true they were to themselves and how a lot of them said it wasn’t the accomplishments that are important, but it’s the ‘why’ behind why they do what they do.

“It’s just amazing to get together with people who are… dedicated to empowering young wāhine in our community.”

Crossan, also a Canterbury Sports Foundation recipient, says the awards were “incredibly inspiring”.

“I am in awe of the amazing mahi that these powerful wāhine are doing, the change they are creating and the stereotypes they are defying are phenomenal.”

Canterbury GirlBoss Awards winners 2024

• Stella Crossan - Sport
• Georgia Rumball - Inclusion
• Rena Oliphant - Arts & Culture
• Annabell Young - Community
• Ella Sage - Innovation
• Amber Collishaw - STEM
• Jorja Quinn and Elsie Duncan - Trailblazers

For more information about GirlBoss, click here.

Article added: Wednesday 28 August 2024