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The Paris 2024 Games
In 2024, Paris became the second city (after London) to host 3 Olympic Games. New Zealand never attended the first, in 1900, and sent a tiny team of 4 to the second, in 1924. That was the Olympics famous for the “Chariots of Fire” 100m sprint race, in which New Zealander Arthur Porritt won a surprise bronze medal.
New Zealand was no bit-part player in the third Paris Olympics, winning 20 medals, including 10 golds, and finishing 11th on the medal table, an incredible effort for such a small and geographically isolated country.
There were some superb performances by the New Zealand men, but it was the women who really stepped up in Paris. They provided a succession of indelible memories and brought home most of the precious metals.
Canoe sprint star Lisa Carrington, or Dame Lisa as she’s been since 2022, added another 3 golds to her fabulous Olympic collection, leading the K4 team (also including Alicia Hoskin, Olivia Brett and Tara Vaughan) to a thrilling fightback over the last 60 metres for gold, teaming with Hoskin for a one-sided win in the K2 500 and dominating the blue riband K1 500.
In any other Olympics, Ellesse Andrews’ performance in winning 2 gold medals and a silver in the velodrome would have hogged the New Zealand headlines. Andrews, daughter of 1990 Commonwealth Games medallist Jon Andrews, won gold in the keirin and the sprint, and silver as part of the women’s sprint relay team (Andrews, Rebecca Petch and Shaane Fulton) that was denied gold only by a world record ride by Britain.
Games Key Facts
- Sports
- 32
- Events
- 329
- Competitors
- 10,714
- Countries competing
- 204 + Refugee Olympic Team and Individual Neutral Athletes
- Main stadium
- Stade de France
NZ Team Key Facts
- Athletes
- 204 (105 men, 99 women)
- Sports
- 23
- Medals won
- 20 (10 gold, 7 silver, 3 bronze)
- Position on medal table
- 11th
- Chef de Mission
- Nigel Avery
- Opening ceremony flagbearers
- Jo Aleh and Aaron Gate
- Closing ceremony flagbearers
- Finn Butcher and Lisa Carrington
Memorable Moments
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Paris 2024 was NZ's most successful Olympic Games
With 20 medals won - 10 gold, 7 silver and 3 bronze.
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Lisa Carrington is NZ's most successful Olympian
After Paris, Lisa brought her total to 9 medals - 8 gold and 1 bronze over 4 Olympic Games. Behind her are Ian Ferguson, Paul MacDonald and Mark Todd.
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Rowing remained NZ's most successful Olympic sport
Taking the total to 33 medals overall (15 gold) post-Paris, followed by athletics 28 (11 gold).
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Ellesse Andrews became the first kiwi to win more than 2 Olympic cycling medals
In Paris, Ellesse claimed two gold medals and one bronze. Adding to the silver she won in keirin at Tokyo 2020.
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NZ's track cycling team delivered standout performances in Paris
In total, NZ cyclists earned 5 medals in Paris - surpassing the previous best haul of three at the London 2012 Games.
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Rowers Lucy Spoors and Brooke Francis, both previous Olympic medallists, combined to win gold
Gold in the women’s double scull was a triumph for mothers – their children watched the final from the stand. Phoebe, sister of Lucy, also won a silver medal as part of the New Zealand 4.
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Golfer Lydia Ko made it 3 medals from 3 Olympics with her gold in Paris
She completed her Olympic set of medals after silver in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and bronze in Tokyo in 2021.
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Finn Butcher's gold medal performance in kayak cross
Canoe slalom experts were calling the 2024 Olympic men’s kayak cross field the strongest ever assembled, which made Finn Butcher’s commanding gold medal performance all the more remarkable.
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Hayden Wilde claimed silver while displaying the spirit of a true Olympian
In one of the Games’ most dramatic finishes, Hayden Wilde secured silver in the men’s triathlon. Though narrowly beaten to gold, Wilde’s grace in defeat and trademark humility reaffirmed his reputation as one of NZ's most respected athletes.
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Erika Fairweather became the first kiwi to make 4 finals at one Olympics
Erika made the finals of the women's 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle events and led the 4 x 200m relay team into the final.
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10 August was NZ's most successful day
The day New Zealand won 3 gold medals – men’s high jump (Hamish Kerr), women’s K1 500 (Lisa Carrington) and women’s golf (Lydia Ko) – our most successful day at an Olympic Games.
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7 NZ Women returned home with Olympic cycling medals
Ellesse Andrews (who won 4), Ally Wollaston (2), Shaane Fulton, Rebecca Petch, Bryony Botha, Emily Shearman and Nicole Shields.
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Michaela Blyde was the women's sevens top try scorer and 2nd highest points scorer
She scored 50 points, 10 tries total while Stacey Waaka totalled 35 points with 7 tries, which placed her 3rd equal on both lists. The other New Zealander to earn a top 10 place was Risi Pouri-Lane, whose 30 points placed her 7th.
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NZ competed in 2 Olympic debut sports - kite sailing and speed climbing
Speed climber Julian David advanced to the quarterfinals of the men’s speed climbing event making his mark in the sport's Olympic debut.
Recognition and Awards
2024 Halberg awards
Overall Supreme Winner - Lydia Ko
Sportswoman of the Year - Lydia Ko
Sportsman of the Year - Hamish Kerr
Team of the Year - Women's K2 500 Canoe Sprint
Coach of the Year - Gordon Walker
Emerging Talent - Tyler Bindon
Favourite Sports Moment - Finn Butcher's post-final moment with father
Olympic recognition
Sarah Walker was elected as an independent member of the IOC
Marcus Daniell was elected to the IOC Athletes' Commission
Barbara Kendall was named 'Olympian for Life'