Ryan Fox Rallies to Win European Tour’s Top Event
Aucklander Ryan Fox, 36, overcame a 3-shot deficit and a triple bogey early in the final round at Wentworth in Surrey with six birdies on the back nine – the last one from 6…
Tag Archives: ESPN
Black Ferns Star Ruby Tui Wins Again
Black Ferns wing Ruby Tui can now celebrate her World Cup victory with a new winner’s medal after she was recently named World Rugby breakthrough 15s player of the year at the World Rugby Awards…
Olympic Shot Put Star Valerie Adams Retires
Two-time Olympic women’s shot put champion Rotorua-born Dame Valerie Adams has announced her retirement at the age of 37, ESPN reports. Adams also won Olympic silver and bronze medals and was a four-time world champion,…
Lydia Ko Sets Tournament Record to Win Lotte
No one came close to New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko at last week’s Lotte Championship in Hawaii on the course of the Kapolei Golf Club, the Associated Press reports. Ko torched Club and tournament…
NBL’s Hawks Sign Teen Rising Star Max Darling
Australian professional basketball team The Hawks has added one of New Zealand’s top young players for the 2020-21 NBL season, signing forward Max Darling to a three-year deal, Olgun Uluc reports for ESPN. Like every…
UFC Champ Israel Adesanya on Cover of Video Game
The newest Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) video game has been announced – and on the cover, is New Zealander Israel Adesanya (pictured right). ESPN’s Marc Raimondi reports. Middleweight champion Adesanya and American welterweight star Jorge…
IndyCar’s Scott Dixon Wins in Texas
IndyCar packed every bit of its delayed season-opening event into one long, hot day at Fort Worth, Texas without any fans in the stands. New Zealander Scott Dixon was the fastest for most of…
Dan Carter Explains New Zealand’s Cup Success
Legendary former All Black fly-half Dan Carter tells ESPN that while the physical challenge of seven weeks of fierce competition at the Rugby World Cup sets it apart as the sport’s ultimate test, it…
Triple Crown for Penske Driver Scott McLaughlin
Christchurch-born Scott McLaughlin has ended a 13-year wait with a thumping win to become the first Supercars driver to win the Triple Crown in Darwin. ESPN’s Eamonn Tiernan reports that DJR Team Penske star…
New Zealand in Throes of a Basketball Revolution
An ESPN article reports that the School Sport New Zealand Census, which has been conducted annually since 2000, revealed earlier this year that basketball had gone past rugby and was only trailing netball as…
Legend of Scrabble Nigel Richards Continues to Grow
Hunched motionless over the board and calling out his word scores in a voice slightly louder than a whisper was four-time World English Scrabble champion, New Zealander Nigel Richards, 51, in closely-cropped grey hair…
Former Journalist Amy Andrew Quits for the Gloves
New Zealander Amy Andrew experienced “the greatest moment of her career” not long ago during a sparring session ahead of the Women’s Boxing World Championships in New Delhi. “It was a mixed session. I looked…
England Announce John Mitchell in Defence Role
England have appointed New Zealander John Mitchell as their defence coach until the end of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Mitchell was England’s assistant coach under Clive Woodward between 1997 and 2000 before he went…
Robert Whittaker Named Fighter of the Year
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion, New Zealand-born Robert Whittaker has been named International Fighter of the Year at the World MMA Awards in Las Vegas, United States. The honour follows a 12-month period that…
Heli-Biking in New Zealand is Epic
“A thick layer of fog makes the scene that much more intense as the helicopter touches down. One by one, each mountain biker jogs away from the helicopter. One by one, the bikes are…
Golfer Lydia Ko Envisions Her Pro Future
Sometimes New Zealander Lydia Ko, 20, likes to imagine the future. More specifically, her professional future. The Auckland-raised golfer talks to ESPN’s Kevin Van Valkenburg about her plans. Ko thinks about what kind of career…
On Formula One Driver Brendon Hartley’s Comeback
A demotion from the Red Bull programme allowed Palmerston North-born Brendon Hartley to seek new ventures, with the driver going on to forge a reputation in sports car racing that he was never able…
Raelene Castle Named New Rugby Australia Chief
Former Netball New Zealand and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs National Rugby League chief executive Raelene Castle is excited by the challenge of turning around rugby’s fortunes in Australia, but doesn’t believe her appointment as Rugby Australia…
How Wayne Pivac Transformed the Scarlets
There were moments early on in Wayne Pivac’s time at the Scarlets when he wondered if he had made the right choice in leaving behind his Auckland world to head to west Wales. “There…
Malakai Fekitoa Features in ESPN’s Body Issue
New Zealand All Blacks centre Malakai Fekitoa is among 23 athletes featured in ESPN The Magazine’s annual Body Issue, which begins its rollout this week on SportsCenter and ESPN.com, and is on newsstands 7…
Heavyweight Joshua Parker Gets the Job Done
South Auckland professional boxer Joshua Parker, 25, has retained the WBO world heavyweight title after a wide points victory over former sparring partner, Romanian Răzvan Cojanu at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau. “Parker’s team…
First-Class Tom Pritchard Celebrates a Century
Right-armer Tom Pritchard, who has just turned 100, was born in Taranaki and took 818 first-class wickets at 23.30 – sitting fourth on New Zealand’s first-class wicket-taking list behind Sir Richard Hadlee – but…
Making Athletic Investment with Coach Jamie Turner
American Gwen Jorgensen’s decision to seek out New Zealander Jamie Turner as a coach was rewarded with the first US Olympic triathlon gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Jorgensen spends five months of…
Lydia Ko Cruises to 3rd Title of Season in Arkansas
Sparked by a stretch of four birdies in her first five holes at the NW Arkansas Championship, New Zealand world champion golfer Lydia Ko, 19, opened an early four-shot lead and was rarely challenged…
Lydia Ko Named in ESPN World Fame 100 Ranking
Lydia Ko has been ranked 81st in ESPN’s World Fame 100 List. She is the only New Zealander among the Top 100 Most Famous athletes and one of only eight women on the list. “Ko…
The Untold Story of Steven Adams
When Thunder center Steven Adams arrived at his first NBA training camp, he knew virtually nothing about the NBA. There was a lot of shrugging and no deference when he started playing, which unnerved…
All Blacks South Africa Rebel Tour 30 Years On
It has been 30 years since the All Blacks rebel tour forced a split in the New Zealand public, Huw Richards writes for ESPN. “The match between the New Zealand Cavaliers and the Junior…
Phillip Island V8 Win for Scott McLaughlin
Christchurch-born Scott McLaughlin, 22, has claimed a commanding V8 Supercars win in Race 1 of the WD-40 Phillip Island SuperSprint in Australia after winning his first pole of the season. McLaughlin, who is the youngest…
Lydia Ko claims 11th LPGA Tour Title with Kia Classic
New Zealand golfing superstar Lydia Ko won the Kia Classic on Sunday at Aviara, and has reaffirmed her position as the top player in the world heading into the first major championship…
Lydia Ko’s Impact On The Game of Golf
Lydia Ko’s impact on the game of golf extends well beyond her years, according to an article in ESPN. The South Korean-born, New Zealand-bred 18-year-old golfer, is one of the most precocious sports…
Marvel Gives Lydia Ko Comic Book Treatment
Lydia Ko, 18, might as well be a super hero, according to Korea Times correspondent Brian Han. That’s why Marvel teamed up with ESPN to give the New Zealand golf champion the comic book…
Richie McCaw Set for Adventure Race
Recently-retired All Blacks captain Richie McCaw will test his outdoor skills in the GODZone – a 550km adventure race in early April 2016 – alongside NZ Rugby Players Association chief executive Rob Nicol. “We know…
All Blacks Own Rugby in a Way No Other Sports Team Ever Could
“New Zealand are not only the world’s leading rugby nation. They also own the game,” writes Simon Barnes in an article on ESPN. “On Saturday night the All Blacks beat France so completely…
Historic Win for Lydia Ko
Lydia Ko made golfing history when she won Sunday’s Evian Championship in France as the youngest winner of a women’s major. The win was her fourth LPGA win of 2015 and the ninth of…
Lydia Ko Wins Canadian Pacific
Lydia Ko has won the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open for the third time and first as a professional, beating American Stacy Lewis with a par on the first hole of a playoff. The 18-year-old Ko…
Daniel Vettori Announces Retirement from International Cricket
Former Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori has confirmed his retirement from an 18-year international cricket career, declaring that the World Cup final against Australia in Melbourne was his last game for New Zealand. “It was…
New Zealand Cricket Fan Wins Fame with One-Handed Catch
Andrew McColloch is $5000 richer and slightly famous after his incredible one-handed catch at a Twenty20 cricket match went viral. Michael Bracewell hit a six in the match between Otago Volts and Wellington Firebirds, and spectator…
Cricketer Jeetan Patel Completes Immense Season in UK
New Zealand cricketer Jeetan Patel, 34, who has been confirmed as the most valuable player of 2014 by the UK’s Professional Cricketers’ Association, has completed an “immense season” as spinner for Warwickshire. “Patel has produced…
Teenage Girl Tackling Men’s Club Rugby
A teenage girl in Southland has been allowed to play with the big boys, with April Miller, 18, taking to the field at lock in what is typically men’s club rugby. Despite admitting to some…
Black Caps on the Rise
What a summer. Three test victories, two test series wins and a 4-0 drubbing of the No. 1 ranked one-day side in the world. New Zealand has risen one place to seventh in the…
Much Good to Be Had from a Gift like Lydia’s
As Lydia Ko, 16, began her rookie year playing as a professional in the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic last week, ESPN’s Mechelle Voepel profiled the world’s No 4-ranked player. Winner of two…
Leaving on Length Critical for India’s NZ tour
Indian cricket sides have historically struggled on tours to New Zealand and one of the reasons is to do with the bounce of the ball and movement off the wicket. In India, where the…
Former Pitcher Turns Oregon’s Luck Around
Formerly of Wellington, Mike White, who became a US citizen in 1994, has turned the Oregon softball program “into a powerhouse”, according to ESPN. One of the elite pitchers in the world during a…
Century and a Win
Black Cap Kane Williamson, 22, finished unbeaten on 145 from 136 balls before New Zealand fielded their way to a 27-run victory over South Africa in Kimberley. New Zealand secured their first series victory…
Solo Protest Paddle Completed
New Zealand-born surfer and activist Dave Rastovich has completed his 350km solo protest paddle mission from Taranaki to Piha, to raise awareness for the nearly extinct Maui’s dolphin and the hazards that seabed mining…
Nebraska’s Prize Prospect
Huskers point guard prospect New Zealander Tai Webster is considered the prize of Nebraska coach Tim Miles’ first recruiting class. ESPN.com rates Webster as a four-star recruit with the following summation: “Webster is a…
Activist Paddling
New Zealand-born Billabong surfer Dave “Rasta” Rastovich, 32, has paddled 350km from Taranaki to Piha to raise awareness about seabed mining off New Zealand’s coast. Rastovich, who lives in Australia, has been drumming up…
Rubberman Prevails
Palmerston North 21-year-old freestyle motorcross champion Levi Sherwood has become the youngest-ever winner of the Red Bull X-Fighters tour championship beating French rider Thomas Pagès on Cockatoo Island in Sydney. “All I came here…
Giant Impresses
New Zealander Steven Adams, 19, “just may be one of the most intriguing players in college basketball this season, not to mention one of the most physically impressive at 7-foot, 250 pounds,” ESPN senior…
Multi-tasking on Court
New Zealand point guard Tai Webster has committed to studying and playing at the University of Nebraska. Webster, at 17 years old, is a rising star, having become the youngest player to ever make…
Backcountry Kicks
“Imagine a contest where a helicopter lifts you to the highest peaks in Mount Aspiring National Park, and for two days, you get to ski powder, cliffs, and backcountry kickers,” Megan Michelson writes for…
Golden Attitude Prevails
New Zealand’s rowing heroes Dunedin-born Hamish Bond, 26, and Hastings-born Eric Murray, 30, maintained their three-year unbeaten run by winning gold in the men’s pair at the Olympic rowing regatta. Bond and Murray, one…
Surfing Strength Studied
A new study led by Oliver Farley from Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and published in the August issue of The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research looks at professional surfers to analyze the…
Ultimate Legend Remembered
Rugby legend Fred “The Needle” Allen – who at age 92 was the oldest living All Black and one of the rare group of players to have both played in and coached the national…
Standing Out on Court
New Zealand high school basketball player 2.15m- (7 feet 1 inch) Steven Adams, who plays for Notre Dame Prep in Baltimore, is one of the top-ranked players in the Class of 2012 (No. 6…
In His Element
“When it comes to skateboarding, New Zealander Bjorn Johnston has put in work,” ESPN blogger Joel Rice writes. “Though he joined Element’s Australian team relatively recently, his resume runs quite deep. Prior to signing…
