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ENDURANCE - WATCH THE VIDEO

The word endurance has a myriad of synonyms courage, fortitude, guts, stamina, perseverance and longevity among them. And New Zealands Olympians epitomise every one.

Rob Waddell, New Zealands chef de mission in Rio, knows the meaning of the word implicitly.  Endurance isnt just about having the capacity to handle pain. Its about turning pain into glory. Its about using everything that youve learned every battle youve fought, every obstacle, every loss, every victory no matter how small - and applying it to one single race.

These inspirational feats by Kiwi athletes truly define endurance.

Endurance - The ability to exert and remain strong for a long period of time:  Lorraine Moller.  Moller was already an outstanding distance runner and a pioneer among New Zealand women athletes when she lined up in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic marathon at the age of 37.  She conquered the sapping heat and humidity, a steep 4km climb near the end of the 42km race and the worlds best womens distance runners to win bronze. She described it as the finest moment of my life.

Endurance - The power of enduring or bearing pain, hardships:  Barbara Kendall. An Olympic windsurfing legend, Kendall showed time and again her tenacity to withstand pain and anguish on her journey to triumph. New Zealands Rainbow Girl overcame a broken wrist to win New Zealands only gold at the 1992 Games; she persevered through cramping arms to claim silver four years later; and battled with a bad cold and petulant weather on Sydney Harbour to take bronze in 2000. Retiring after her fifth Olympics in 2008, Kendalls mettle and her competitive longevity has inspired many.

Endurance - Of lasting quality and duration:  Andrew Nicholson.  Many would say Nicholson is the most prolific, and enduring, event rider in the modern history of the sport. Since 1984, the Waikato born equestrian has been selected for New Zealand Olympic teams seven times, and has won a silver and two bronze medals in the team event. Even an infamously disastrous show-jumping round on Spinning Rhombus in 1992 did not deter him.  At 54, he was focused on qualifying for a record eighth Olympics in Rio, when he fell on a cross country course and underwent surgery for a neck injury.

Endurance - To withstand and recover from fatigue: Rob Waddell. In the lead-up to the 2000 Olympics, Waddell wrestled with his heart its irregular beats threatened to keep him of the start-line of the mens single sculls gold medal race.  His atrial fibrillation often left the formidable athlete struggling mid-race as though he was rowing through mud. But on Sydneys Penrith Lakes in 2000, he powered through the full 2000m and won by a commanding eight metres. I was physically exhausted, absolutely stuffed; it was one of the hardest races I ever had, he said. But it was an Olympic gold medal, and thats how theyre supposed to be.

 

 


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