From the Fern: Latest from the NZ Team

Our athletes made waves worldwide this month, delivering plenty of headline-worthy performances. 

One of the standout moments came from Geordie Beamish, who made an incredible comeback after a dramatic qualifying heat in the Men’s 3000m Steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

With just one lap remaining in his qualifying heat, Beamish fell and was trampled, but he got back to his feet and fought his way to second place, securing a spot in the final.

After a two-day reset, Beamish returned for the final. In a thrilling finish, he surged past Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali right before the line to secure the win.

It was an epic race and arguably the best comeback of the championships.

Hamish Kerr has etched his name further into New Zealand sporting history, completing a full set of global gold medals with victory in the men’s high jump at the World Athletics Championships.

Maddi Wesche was also in the medals at the World Champs. Her 20.06m opening throw equalled her personal best and put her in top spot, before eventually claiming the bronze medal in the women's shot put.

Tom Walsh secured his place in the Men's Shot Put final with a season best throw of 21.94m. Which left him one centimetre short of winning the bronze medal. All three of our pole vaulters also made it to the Women's final with Olivia McTaggart being New Zealand's top finisher coming in 8th with a height of 4.65m. 

In the cycling world, Sammie Maxwell fought her way to claim a silver medal in the elite women's cross-country race at the UCI MTB World Championships in Switzerland. In just her second year racing in the elite category, she has really stamped her mark on the competition.

Niamh Fisher-Black made history as the first New Zealander (male or female) to reach the podium at the UCI Road World Championships. She claimed a silver medal in Rwanda, finishing just 23 seconds behind the winner, after a gruelling 165 km race featuring 3,350m of climbing. Congratulations, Niamh!

Erin Routliffe and her partner Gabriela Dabrowski (Canada) have won the US Open in the Women's Doubles. Winning the match in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. Epic Erin!

Lulu Sun won the WTA Tour 125-level tournament in China this month, beating local favourite Ma Ye-Xin 6-4 6-2 in the final at Jingshan. Sun has also confirmed to be back playing in front of home fans at Auckland's ASB Classic in January. 

The New Zealand Black Ferns claimed the bronze medal at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, defeating France in the third-place playoff. The squad included several NZ Sevens stars: Jorja Miller, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Kelly Brazier, Risi Pouri-Lane, Theresa Setefano, and Stacey Waaka. A special mention to the youngest player in the squad - just 18-years-old, Braxton Sorenson-McGee who was named the World Rugby Women's 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year. Incredible stuff!

The Black Sticks Women have officially qualified for the 2026 Hockey World Cup after winning the Oceania Cup. It came down to the final game against Australia. With the match tied at 1-1 and to be decided by penalties, the Black Sticks Women held their nerve to claim the 5-4 win on penalties.

The Silver Ferns have lifted the Taini Jamison Trophy after a clean sweep over South Africa, winning all three matches in the series. Adding to the occasion, three players made their debuts for the Ferns, Martina Salmon, Catherine Hall, and Filda Vui. 

Hayden Wilde has won all four of his races in the T100 World Series, just 97 days after a near career-ending bike crash. He isn’t slowing down, with his sights now set on the next stop of the T100 World Tour in Wollongong, Australia, on 18 October.

Congratulations to Oliver Welch (left, bow seat) and Ben Taylor (right, stroke seat) for clinching gold in the men's coxless pair at the World Rowing Championships in Shanghai. The duo surged to victory, finishing nearly five seconds ahead of the silver medalists from Romania, with a winning time of 6:37.87.

There were more medals for New Zealand at the World Champs. The women’s coxless pair took home bronze, with Alana Sherman (stroke seat), Isla Blake (3 seat), Rebecca Leigh (2 seat), and Juliette Lequeux (bow seat) celebrating a fantastic result. Congratulations to the team!

This year also saw the introduction of mixed events, the mixed eight and mixed double, featuring crews made up of male and female athletes who also compete in other events. New Zealand finished third in the mixed eight, composed of members from the men’s coxless pair, women’s coxless four, and Flynn Watson and Campbell Crouch (stern pair of the men’s coxless four), with Harry Molloy as cox.

Five other crews delivered strong performances at the regatta, with the women’s quad finishing fifth in the A final, the men’s single claiming third in the B final, and both the men’s double and the men’s coxless four taking second in their B finals. The mixed double also impressed with a second-place finish in the B final. Solid results all round.