A century after our Olympic story began at the 1908 London Games, New Zealand's 1000th Olympian is set to compete in Beijing. Kiwi athletes have produced plenty of memorable moments over the years, but the Summer Games have also been marred by boycotts, controversy and tragedy.
John Walker is one of New Zealand's track heroes. His athletic career was punctuated by memorable performances and noted for its longevity. While the bulk of Walker's success occurred during the 1970s, he continued footing it with the best in the decade or so that followed.
New Zealand athletes prepare for the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Canada. Among the athletes featured are Olympic gold medallists Yvette Williams and Murray Halberg.
For most of
their history, the Olympic Games welcomed only those who competed for pleasure
and spurned all monetary rewards. Until the late 20th century, officials
pursued professionals far more vigorously than drug cheats.
Several New Zealand athletes competed – and
won medals – as part of ‘Australasian' teams at the 1908 and 1912 Olympics. But
this country's first official team made its debut at Antwerp in 1920.
Violet Walrond
was New Zealand's first female Olympian. She was only 14 when selected and 15 when
she swam at the 1920 Antwerp Games. Standing 1.6-metres tall, she weighed just 48.5
kg.
New Zealand missed the first three modern Olympiads in Athens (1896), Paris (1900) and St Louis (1904).
In the 1908 Games in London, New Zealanders competed as part of an ‘Australasian'
team.
One of our greatest athletes,
Berlin Olympic gold medallist Jack
Lovelock led a remarkably full life before his tragic death in 1949, just a few days shy of
his 40th birthday.
