Martial arts: Otago competitor becomes NZ's first official taekwondo Olympian

1.00pm

Taekwondo will be officially represented in a New Zealand Olympic team for the first time at Athens after today's selection of Otago competitor Verina Wihongi.

A third-degree black belt, she will compete in the welterweight division at the games in August.

Wihongi, of Balclutha, qualified for Greece after her gold medal performances at the Olympic selection tournament in Auckland and the Asian Taekwondo Games in Bangkok in February. New Zealand was represented when taekwondo was a demonstration sport at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, with Susan Graham winning a silver medal.

Wihongi's selection follows another first in New Zealand Olympic history earlier this week, with the confirmation of Jessica Beer as the country's first female fencing Olympian.

New Zealand Olympic Committee secretary-general Barry Maister said Wihongi's inclusion was great news for taekwondo.

"On Wednesday we announced the first female fencer to make a New Zealand Olympic Games team," he said.

"Today we have our first taekwondo athlete. Verina has worked very hard to gain her selection and we are confident she will compete with distinction."

- NZPA