Twenty-five years ago, the world watched as New Zealand’s athletes marched proudly into Stadium Australia at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. This month we reflect and celebrate the enduring legacy and spirit of those Games.
In September 2000, a team of 150 athletes represented New Zealand in what was for many the closest thing to a home Olympic Games.
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Kiwi supporters flocked across the Tasman, as our team in black singlets and silver ferns captured the hearts of the nation.
While the New Zealand Team’s final medal tally was modest with one gold and three bronze, the Sydney Olympic Games gave rise to moments of triumph and resilience.
New Zealand’s only gold medal came from Rob Waddell in the men’s single sculls rowing. Waddell was dominant in the final, putting in a powerful performance to claim an historic victory.
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Aaron McIntosh, Rob Waddell, Mark Todd, Barbara Kendall
It was the country’s first Olympic rowing gold since 1984, marking a major breakthrough for the sport nationally. Even more remarkable was Waddell achieved this despite battling a serious heart condition - atrial fibrillation.
On Sydney Harbour, Barbara Kendall completed her Olympic medal set with a bronze in women’s windsurfing, an achievement in a career that spanned nearly two decades.
Aaron McIntosh joined her on the podium, securing bronze in men’s Mistral and Sir Mark Todd, already a double Olympic champion, claimed bronze in individual three-day eventing, 16 years after his first gold.
Todd’s enduring excellence continued as he later went on to compete at three more Olympic Games.
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NZ Team's first Olympic Triathlon Team
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NZ Team's first Olympic Softball team
In other sports, New Zealand fielded a softball team for the first time and Triathlon made its Olympic debut with four athletes representing New Zealand.
Beyond medals, Sydney 2000 marked a turning point in New Zealand’s Olympic culture. Under the leadership of Chef de Mission Les Mills, unity was championed as never before, with Māori culture woven into the fabric of the team environment.
The Waharoa, a beautifully carved gateway, stood proudly in the athletes’ village, and Māori language and protocol brought a deeper sense of identity and togetherness. This was the beginning of the spirit of “One Team, One Spirit” introduced four years on and continues to shape the ethos of the NZ Team today.
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The Games also sparked important change off the field. The call to strengthen support for elite athletes led to increased government and corporate investment in Olympic sports, building a foundation from which future Olympic champions would rise.
As we commemorate 25 years since that unforgettable fortnight in Sydney, we honour the athletes, coaches, supporters and cultural leaders whose commitment and passion left an indelible mark on New Zealand’s sporting story.
Their legacy lives on in the achievements of today’s Olympians, whose journeys are shaped by the trails blazed in 2000. We remember and celebrate the team performances, the spirit, unity and culture that continue to carry New Zealand forward on the world stage.