New Zealand's Road to Rio: 5 - 11 July

Mountainous week for Bennett on the bike

It’s been a monumental week for Kiwi cyclist George Bennett – chosen for his first Olympic Games and notching up a top-ten finish in a stage of the Tour de France.

The Nelson rider will make his Olympic debut as the only New Zealander in the men’s road race in Rio.

Competing in his first Tour de France, for Dutch professional team LottoNL-Jumbo, the strong hill climber finished seventh in the ninth stage overnight, despite accidentally knocking down a spectator on a tight turn.

Bennett is now 33^rd overall - 26 minutes down on British leader and Olympic bronze medallist Chris Froome - and ninth in the climbing classification. 

Roulston back in the Olympic saddle for Rio

Eight years after winning silver and bronze at the Beijing Olympic Games, Hayden Roulston has dug deep to earn his way back into the New Zealand track cycling team for Rio.

Roulston gave up a successful career on the road to realise his dream of completing his career back on the track, named in the New Zealand men’s pursuit team, along with 2015 world champions Piet Bulling, Regan Gough and Dylan Kennett, and London Olympic medallist Aaron Gate.

Five current world champions are among the 20 cyclists named for Rio, including world time trial champion Linda Villumsen.

Whitelock leads the Black Sticks to her fourth Olympic Games

New Zealand women's hockey captain Kayla Whitelock will play at her fourth Olympic Games in Rio, leading a women’s hockey side brimming with experience and talent.

Midfielder Whitelock, who has 247 test caps to her name, competed at Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012. Gemma Flynn, who first played at the Beijing Games as an 18-year-old, has made her third Olympic team.

Only three of the 16 players selected have played less than 100 games - defender Brooke Neal and strikers Kirsten Pearce and 21-year-old Kelsey Smith, considered the bolter in the side.

Cui first NZ Olympic diver in 24 years

When teenager Elizabeth Cui hits the water in the Maria Lenk Aquatic Centre next month, she will be the first New Zealand diver in Olympic competition since 1992 in Barcelona.

Cui is the sole diver chosen to represent New Zealand in Rio and will compete in the women’s 3m individual springboard – on her 19^th birthday.

Based at Louisiana State University, Aucklander Cui made a splash at this year’s Rio World Cup and Olympic test event, finishing ahead of the current Commonwealth champion in her division.

Women's Football side packed with skill for Rio

The New Zealand Women's Football team will field a vastly experienced side in Rio, with seven of the 18-strong squad heading to their third Olympic Games.

Five members of the New Zealand women’s soccer side, ranked 17th in the world, have played more than 100 internationals, with Kirsty Yallop set to play her 100th game in the Olympic opener against the United States on August 3.

Captain Abby Erceg heads the troupe of three-time Olympians along with Yallop, Anna Green, Amber Hearn, Ria Percival, Katie Duncan and Ali Riley.

Ko in tie for third at US Open

Lydia Ko has finished the US Open in a tie for third in at CordeValle in California – her best finish in the tournament, but two shots short of her third LPGA major title.

The 19-year-old world No. 1 went into the final round with a one-shot lead – the fourth straight major that she has led going into the last 18 holes.

But her hopes of winning another LPGA major were dashed when she could not recover from a double bogey on the ninth hole. She finished with a three-over 75, two shots behind tied leaders American Brittany Lang and Sweden's Anna Nordqvist; Lang winning in a play-off.

New Zealand Men's Basketball tipped out of Olympic contention

The Tall Blacks have gone down fighting at the final Olympic qualifying basketball tournament in Manila, losing their semi-final to Canada and the chance to play in Rio.

The New Zealanders stuck with the Canadians, packed with NBA stars, throughout the game, but lost 78-72 at the final buzzer.

Losing big man Isaac Fotu through injury in the first quarter impacted on the Kiwis, who needed to win the tournament to earn a ticket to the Olympic Games.