New Zealand's Road to Rio: 15-21 March

Kiwi stars shine indoors in Portland as Tom Walsh crowned world champion

New Zealand’s athletics stars have shone brightly at the world indoor athletics championships in the United States – with a collection of one gold and two bronze medals, and a swag of confidence ahead of the Rio Olympic Games.

Tom Walsh began the medal haul by crushing the men’s shot put field in the Oregon Convention Centre, winning gold with a best throw of 21.78m on his sixth and final attempt. It was 89cm clear of his nearest competitor, Romania's Andrei Gag.  Fellow Kiwi Jacko Gill finished ninth at 19.93m.

Double Olympic champion Valerie Adams was happy to take bronze in the women’s shot put, signalling her return to international competition after a “very long journey” back from injury. Adams’ best throw of 19.25m was 96cm short of gold medallist American Michelle Carter, who set a new US record of 20.21m.

This morning, Nick Willis won a gusty bronze in the 1500m final; the 2008 Olympic silver medallist storming to the lead with two laps remaining, before finally being overtaken by American Matt Centrowitz and Czech Jakub Holusa in the final 30m.

Rising star Eliza McCartney finished an impressive fifth in the women’s pole vault – the teenager clearing 4.70m in first major international meet at elite level.
 

Just reward for Andrea Kilday with ticket to Rio

Taekwondo exponent Andrea Kilday has been rewarded for more than 20 years of hard work and dedication by being named in the 2016 New Zealand Olympic team for Rio.

Kilday, who will compete in the women’s under 49kg division, has been in stellar form especially in the past two years – winning gold medals in both the 2015 Pacific Games and the 2016 Oceania Championships, which doubled as an Olympic qualifying event.

Now 34, and the mother of two boys, Kilday has been competing in the sport since she was 10 years old in Christchurch. Since 2005, she’s been based in Auckland, training at Sejong Taekwondo Club with her coach Jin Keun Oh, and is now ranked 16^th in the world.

Black Sticks reach their goal against Korea

The Black Sticks men have taken plenty of positives from their latest international campaign – remaining unbeaten throughout the four-test home series with Korea.

The sides drew the first and last tests, but New Zealand had sizeable wins – 7-1 and 6-1 – in the middle of the series played in Auckalnd. The big victories satisfied the Black Sticks coaching staff, who’d asked the players to focus on improving their goal-scoring ability.

Meanwhile Black Sticks women’s coach Mark Hager has injected more experience into his squad for the international Hawke’s Bay Cup tournament in a fortnight – re-including 222-test veteran Anita Punt, striker Charlotte Harrison, goalkeeper Sally Rutherford and midfielder Julie King into the line-up in his quest for the “perfect balance” for Rio.

Lisa Carrington wins WPA Sportswoman of the Year award

A record-breaking season has earned Olympic gold medallist Lisa Carrington the crown of Sportswoman of the Year at the World Paddle Awards in Barcelona.

In 2015, Carrington became the first New Zealander to win the women’s K1 500 world title, and then became a double world champion with victory in the K1 200.  Four World Cup gold medals capped off an incredible canoe sprint season.

Carrington, gold medallist in K1 200 at the 2012 London games, aims to go for gold over both distances at this year's Rio Olympic Games.

Gaze wins first battle in intense bid for bike spot in Rio

The war for the New Zealand men’s mountain bike spot in Rio continues to rage, with Sam Gaze winning the first battle over rival Anton Cooper at the New Zealand mountain bike cross-country championships on the weekend.

Gaze – who won silver to Cooper’s gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – broke clear on the second lap and held out Cooper, the world under-23 champion, who had to change a wheel on the demanding Wanaka course. The championship was the first selection race towards nomination for the likely one Olympic place available for a New Zealand cross-country rider. 

Glasgow Commonwealth Games representative Kate Fluker overcame a first lap puncture to storm back and retain her elite women's title.

Kiwi athletes to share Olympic spirit with underprivileged kids

New Zealand athletes will bring the spirit of the Olympic Games to underprivileged kids in Rio in a partnership with the city’s Mangueira community.

Members of the 2016 New Zealand Olympic team will make visits to the neighbourhood in the northern hills of Rio, carry out coaching sessions with youngsters and gift equipment and clothing.

At the announcement of the relationship, New Zealand Olympic team Chef de Mission Rob Waddell shared his 2000 Olympics gold medal with children from the neighbourhood in the northern hills of Rio, and challenged them to a 100m sprint on two new rowing machines donated by the New Zealand team.

“We will share our medals, our stories and our skills to encourage sport participation. Our athletes will also benefit as they learn about a new culture and see first-hand the positive impact sport can have,” Waddell says.