New Zealand Olympians Triumph in Tokyo

New Zealand is basking in the glow of its greatest ever Olympic medal haul, departing Tokyo with 20 medals – seven gold, six silver and seven bronze, and a new champion, Lisa Carrington, who has become the country’s most decorated Olympic athlete, Wellington-based journalist Eva Corlett writes for The Guardian.

Corlett continues:

The tally surpassed the previous record of 18 at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro games, with medals won across 11 sports and women winning more than half of those. The country placed 13th overall on the medal table.

“The team’s chef de mission, Rob Waddell, paid credit to all the team’s medallists, but also to other athletes who had arrived in Tokyo, often after unusually challenging journeys to qualify.

“While the medals are great, I’m proud of the entire team,” Waddell said.

Kayak sprint champion Lisa Carrington became New Zealand’s most medalled Olympic athlete, winning three gold medals and bringing her total medal total to six; five gold, one bronze.

Posting to social media, Carrington said never in her wildest dreams did she think a “dream so big” would come true.

Original article by Eva Corlett, The Guardian, August 9, 2021.