Sandra Lee BlewettMBE (16 September 1949 – 1 January 2024)[1] was a New Zealand swimmer and coach.
Since 1971, Blewett was an advanced swimming instructor and coach for non-disabled and disabled swimmers.[2] She was also an athlete in her own right.[3] She held records of 44 hours for endurance swimming from Whangarei to Auckland, 33 hours for a double crossing of Lake Taupō and a 25-hour swim in a heated 25 metre swimming pool.[2]
Blewett worked in the development of Parasports in New Zealand for over 25 years in many roles including in NZ Para swimming and Parafed Auckland.[4] After this she was a member of the board of Paralympics New Zealand from 2001 to 2008.[4] Blewett operated the Sandra Blewett Learn to Swim School.[5]
Blewett was awarded an MBE in the 1992 New Year Honours. In 2022, Paralympics New Zealand awarded her the PNZ Order of Merit for outstanding service.[4]
