New Zealand’s Olympic team returned home with several medals after a successful campaign in Paris. The team finished the Games with 20 medals, including 10 gold, seven silver, and three bronze.
Eight-time Olympic gold medallist Lisa Carrington was among the athletes. She returned home wearing her three new gold medals. She is now New Zealand’s most decorated Olympian after taking home golds in the women’s K1, K2, and K4 classes.
Olympic gold medallist Finn Butcher finished first in the men’s Kayak Cross, marking the event’s debut at the Olympic Games. He expressed happiness in representing New Zealand and putting his region on the map.
Fellow Kayaker Aimee Fisher watched Butcher’s gold medal race. She finished fourth in the K1 final and was knocked out of the K2 in the quarterfinals alongside partner Lucy Matehaere. Fisher reunited with her family after 16 weeks away and expressed her joy to race for her people on the big stage.
Isaac McHardie showed off the only silver medal at Auckland Airport, earned with partner Will McKenzie in the men’s 49er sailing class. Weightlifter David Liti finished eighth in the men’s 102kg, with a 415kg combined total.
He also shared his exploits of pretending to be an athlete from a different sport. He was convincing athletes from other countries in the Olympic Village that he was a boxer who finished fourth at the Games.
Taiko Torepe-Ormsby finished 19th in the men’s 50m freestyle and expressed pride in representing Aotearoa at the Games. He said he was proud to be a Māori Olympian and looked forward to returning home with a “hāngī.”
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