100th Olympic Medal Likely at London

With just six months to go to the London Olympic Games (eds. Friday 27 Jan), the New Zealand Olympic Committee is confident New Zealand’s 100th Olympic medal will be won.

New Zealand Olympians have won 90 Olympic medals since the nation’s first in 1908 and Secretary General Kereyn Smith says winning the 100th is a realistic goal for the London team.

"We’re into the six month countdown and New Zealand has a significant number of athletes well placed for a podium finish," she said at a function marking the six month milestone and launching the Samsung Experience Truck – a mobile Olympic experience. "We’re aiming for our 100th medal this year in London and a strong all-round performance from our Olympic athletes."

Through High Performance Sport New Zealand (and formerly through SPARC) the Government has targeted around $150 million of investment into Olympic and Paralympic sports over the four-year Olympic funding cycle. That investment looks to be paying off, with 22 Kiwi athletes and teams securing top three placings at their most recent world championships or similar pinnacle events.

Among these top ranked athletes are sailors Blair Tuke and Peter Burling. Both Olympic Scholarship holders, 49er crew Tuke and Burling finished with a silver medal at the Sailing World Championships in Perth last December and earned two of the first spots in the New Zealand Olympic Team to London 2012.

"The London Olympic Games are the pinnacle," said Tuke. "We plan to contribute to New Zealand winning its 100th Olympic medal and making Kiwis proud."

London team Chef de Mission Dave Currie says the team environment will be shaped to enable athletes to deliver on their potential during the Olympic Games.

"We’ve put in place planning and processes to enable each of our athletes every chance of delivering at games time," he said. "It’s about creating a high performance, inspirational environment and it takes meticulous planning to get there."

"Our sports and athletes are prepared and the New Zealand Olympic Committee will ensure they have the resources they need to achieve at the London Olympic Games.

"While it comes down to performance on the day, history tells us that with so many athletes in the frame for a medal London is shaping up to be a successful games."

Currie says the London Olympic organisers are also on track at the six month milestone. "Without doubt, the London organisers are going to deliver an outstanding games."

New Zealand Olympic Committee selectors have named twelve athletes to the London team to date which is expected to comprise around 200 athletes in total, competing in 17 sports.

Each of the athletes selected to the New Zealand Olympic Team must demonstrate they can finish in the top 16.

New Zealand Olympic team selection announcements will continue until early July.

New Zealand’s first Olympic medal was won at the London Olympic Games in 1908 by Harry Kerr in the 3500m walk.

The London Olympic Games take place 27 July – 12 August 2012.

The Samsung Experience Truck is a mobile Olympic experience that offers people a chance to get up close and personal with Kiwi athletes and New Zealand’s proud Olympic history. It will tour New Zealand in the build-up to the Olympic Games visiting schools and sporting events.

For more information, contact: Ashley@olympic.org.nz.

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