New Zealand celebrated 100 days to go until the Rio Olympic Games on Wednesday. The milestone was marked by a sunrise event which incorporated the handover of the New Zealand team kakahu (the cloak worn by the Team's opening Ceremony flag bearer) from Sochi 2014 flag bearer Shane Dobbin to New Zealand's Rio 2016 Chef de Mission Rob Waddell.
Cheltenham Beach, Devonport proved an apt setting for the celebrations, with the silhouette of Auckland’s Rangitoto as the backdrop as New Zealand acknowledged the importance of the countdown to Rio.
For the 76 athletes from nine sports already selected to the team, this date means specific games-time planning and preparation ramp up in the final three months. Whilst for others, the attention must remain on the race for final qualification and Olympic Team selection.
New Zealand sailors have won gold and silver in the 2016 Sailing World Cup Hyeres in France, with Peter Burling and Blair Tuke extending their incredible unbeaten run to 26 regattas, and Sam Meech climbing on to the podium after a dramatic medal race tussle.
As has become their style, Burling and Tuke had the 49er gold medal sealed before the final medal race, winning by a massive 46 points despite capsizing twice during the regatta.
Meech went into the Laser medal race in fourth place, but leapfrogged up the placings to claim silver with a hard-fought third in the final race. Fellow Kiwi Andy Maloney also ended on a high note, winning the Laser medal race to end up fifth overall.
Olympic 470 champions Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie – hamstrung by a disqualification earlier in the event – also won their final race to end up fourth overall; while Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox were sixth in the men’s 470s. Other Kiwis to finish in the top 10 were Josh Junior (fourth in the Finn) and Alex Maloney and Molly Meech (ninth in the 49erFX).
Strong show jumping boosts Mark Todd to seventh in Kentucky
Two-time Olympic champion Mark Todd has finished the best of the New Zealand riders at the Kentucky four-star three-day event.
Todd and Campino were seventh overall, after dropping one rail in the show jumping phase, in an event dominated by reigning Olympic champion Michael Jung of Germany. Todd and Campino had recovered from a difficult cross-country, where they battled torrential rain and picked up 13.2 time penalties.
Fellow Kiwi Jock Paget was 14th aboard Clifton Signature, after dropping three show jumping rails; Blyth Tait was 44th and Joe Meyer 51st. Tim Price and Bango were eliminated in the cross country.
Dion Smith continues international cycling ascent
Promising young Kiwi cyclist Dion Smith continues to forge his mark on the international cycling stage, finishing 10th in the Tour of Yorkshire in front of more than two million spectators.
The 23-year-old finished 11th on the third and final stage, to end up 1m 21s behind veteran Frenchman Thomas Voeckler in the general classification.
It was another good result for Pro Cycling team rider Smith, who won the REV Classic in England in February. His UCI world ranking of 136 is the best of any New Zealander.
Sarah Walker recovered and ready for Rio bid
Bouncing back from injury, BMX star Sarah Walker is on her way to the Netherlands in her bid to compete in Rio.
On her way back from suffering a double fracture in her arm two months ago, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist put her body – and her confidence - to the test with a series of lofty jumps at the North Shore BMX Club over the weekend.
Happy with the outcome, she will now line up in the next World Cup event in Holland this weekend, before training in Florida and making a bid for an Olympic spot via the world championships in Colombia later this month.