A lifelong dream to compete at the Olympic Games is a step closer for Mount Maunganui taekwondo fighter Rhiannon O'Neill.
The long-time national under-62kg champion and highly-qualified second dan black-belt holder will represent New Zealand at the Pacific Games in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea from July 4 to 18.
It is the largest sporting event to be held in Papua New Guinea with 4000 athletes and officials attending.
O'Neill, a silver medallist at the Oceania Games in Sydney last year, qualified for the Pacific Games at the TNZ Open held at the North Shore Events Centre last month.
"The Olympics are my main goal and I have always wanted to go. These Pacific games are pretty important. If I get a good spot in this competition, it opens up a pretty big door for Rio," she said.