FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Kia ora tātou,
I’ve recently landed back in Aotearoa with plenty to reflect on, after having the privilege of representing HPSNZ at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and visiting Paris’ 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games sites alongside the NZOC.
Birmingham delivered an outstanding Games. The power of having full crowds again with all the energy, sporting knowledge and fun that they brought was awesome. And seeing the athletes react so positively to this environment was very special.
The NZOC did an excellent job leading the team and providing a supportive culture for performance. Congratulations to first time Chef de Mission Nigel Avery, the NZOC team and the wider ‘team behind the team’ of support staff working 20 hour days to support the athletes and ensure their success.
Ko te amorangi ki mua, ko te hāpai ō ki muri – without the support team out the back doing the hard mahi, we would not have our leaders, shining stars and chiefs out the front doing what they do best.
Our athletes delivered medals and personal bests at record levels, doing New Zealand proud in their events. We were equally proud of their sportsmanship and uniquely kiwi attitude. It’s hard to single anyone out but Aaron Gate’s four golds were exceptional, Paul Coll’s two hour, five set marathon for gold showed true kiwi spirit and Dame Sophie dominated in the pool once again.
In this edition of HPSNZ Update, our GM Performance Partnerships Eddie Kohlhase provides his perspective on the Birmingham performances and we also talk to Swimming New Zealand’s Amanda White about that sport’s best ever Commonwealth Games result in Birmingham.
Looking ahead to Paris, I believe it will be the most spectacular Olympics and Paralympics ever with temporary sporting facilities being built under the iconic Eiffel Tower and alongside the Louvre.
It will be a Games for athletes and spectators alike and it is just 702 days away!
Ngā mihi
Raelene
INNOVATION PROJECT FUNDING APPLICATIONS OPEN
Kiwi innovation sits at the heart of much of New Zealand’s sporting success and the Innovation team at HPSNZ will open applications for the next round of innovation project funding from 5 September.
Head of Innovation Simon Briscoe points to some great innovation projects from Beijing 2022 which led to podium success for our snow sport athletes. “Remember Corey Peters’ sit ski, the Virtual Reality preparation application or the wearable technology for load monitoring. All of these innovations were delivered by our innovation engineers working with NSOs and athletes to identify technologies that could give our athletes a competitive edge.”
BIRMINGHAM PERFORMANCES IN PERSPECTIVE
Despite New Zealand’s record 20 Gold medals at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, HPSNZ General Manager of Performance Partnerships Eddie Kohlhase believes it is getting harder to win on the world stage.
He believes the team’s results represented a fantastic performance of which we should all be proud. But his observations from the sidelines in Birmingham and his initial analysis of the New Zealand Team statistics beyond the medal count have pointed to some work-ons for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and beyond.
SWIMMING MAKES ITS BIGGEST SPLASH EVER
Birmingham’s Sandwell Aquatics Centre was home to the best ever New Zealand swim team result at a Commonwealth Games, with the team taking home five gold, two silver and two bronze medals.
Of the success, High Performance Manager for Swimming NZ, Amanda White, says it is one of those times where you look back and know all has gone according to plan although arguably it came earlier than expected.
NOT FINISHED WITH ROWING – THE PREGNANT PIONEER
At 24 weeks pregnant most women would be forgiven for putting their feet up for a mid-afternoon break. Not so Tokyo Olympic rower Lucy Spoors who is more likely to head to the gym or out on the water for a training session.
The pioneering rower, who competed at the Henley Regatta at 17 weeks pregnant, is debunking myths on her journey to achieve two of her most important goals – starting a family and aiming for a place at the Paris Olympics.
Lucy’s story is not only a very personal journey but one of teamwork and support from everyone at Rowing NZ – athlete performance support staff, fellow rowers and administrators.
SPARKY BY TRADE, CANOEIST BY SPORT
Fresh from a tough Canoe Sprint World Champs where he was competing in a new event, Tokyo Olympic athlete Kurtis Imrie heads homeward to continue his training and to put his sparky high vis vest back on.
HPSNZ spoke with Kurtis about the Prime Minister’s Scholarship which has enabled him to forge a trade as a qualified electrician, while continuing to aim for a place on the canoe racing team in Paris.
