Olympic Team Finalised at 185 | New Zealand Olympic Team

9 July 2012

The New Zealand Olympic Team has been finalised today with 185 athletes to represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games in London. The final numbers come as decathlete Brent Newdick, heptathlete Sarah Cowley and track cyclist Rushlee Buchanan were selected overnight. At 185 athletes, the London 2012 team equals that of Beijing 2008 in size and is a far cry from the team of seven athletes which represented New Zealand at the London Olympic Games in 1948. New Zealand Olympic Committee secretary general Kereyn Smith was delighted to have named the full Olympic Team named. London will be a significant games for New Zealand, she said. We anticipate that with 185 athletes well be among the top twenty largest teams at the games. We have our 100th Olympic medal in our sights and Im confident New Zealands athletes will make Kiwis in both the UK, and back home in New Zealand, proud. Newdick and Cowleys selections were announced today following confirmation that no other athletes had reached the selection standard during the qualification period, which ended yesterday. London will be the first Olympic Games for both athletes. Newdick competed at both the 2006 Melbourne and 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, winning the silver medal at Delhi. Cowley represented New Zealand at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006. Rushlee Buchanan had been named in the team in April, pending quota spot confirmations from UCI. With all spots now confirmed, Buchanan has been officially added to the team pursuit in London. The 8th of July was the final date for New Zealand athletes to qualify for selection to the Olympic Team with athlete names being submitted to the London Olympic Games Organising Committee (LOCOG) for official entry into the Olympic Games tomorrow, 9 July (eds. UKT). The five largest New Zealand Olympic Teams prior to London 2012 are 185 Beijing 2008, 149 Athens 2004, 151 Sydney 2000, 140 Barcelona 1992, 135 Los Angeles 1984. Beijing opened with 182 athletes but this number grew to 185 as reserves were called into the team. Cycling - Track