Olympics 2024: New Zealand win most gold medals with nine in Paris

New Zealand have struck a new golden mark at the Paris Olympics reaching nine gold medals – the nation’s most at a single Games.

With Dame Lisa Carrington’s success in the K1 500m, Lydia Ko’s performance in women’s golf, and Hamish Kerr’s dramatic high jump victory, the 2024 crop of New Zealand athletes have surpassed the record tally of eight gold medals set in Los Angeles in 1984.

It’s the greatest day in Olympic history for New Zealand, winning three gold medals on the same day for the first time.

It’s a remarkable achievement considering that between 1988 and 2008, New Zealand didn’t surpass three gold medals in a single Games, let alone on one single day.

Gold medallist Lydia Ko celebrates on the podium after winning the women's golf at the Paris Olympics. Photo / Getty Images

The previous best day was ‘Super Saturday’ at the Beijing Olympics which produced five medals: two gold, one silver, and two bronze.

And there could be more to come on the final day in Paris.

Keirin champion Ellesse Andrews is through to the women’s sprint semifinals, with the final taking place late tonight. Sam Dakin has reached the men’s keirin quarter-finals while Ally Woolaston lines up in the women’s omnium at the velodrome.

It’s going to make it a very hard decision for the Halberg Supreme award next year.

New Zealand sits on a total of 18 medals, two shy of the country’s total record of 20 at the Tokyo Olympics.

Carrington won her third gold medal of the Games with victory in the K1 final last night to go with her K2 and K4 victories. She now has eight career gold medals and nine medals in total putting her amongst the likes of Olympic legends Usain Bolt and Simone Biles.

Ko became the first Olympic golfer to win the complete set with her gold going with silver in Rio and bronze in Tokyo. A record that may never be matched in the sport.

Hamish Kerr celebrates his dramatic victory. Photo / Getty Images

Kerr became the first New Zealand male to win gold in a field event and the second Kiwi after Dame Valerie Adams.

New Zealand sit 12th on the medal table with nine gold, seven silver and two bronze.

Hear it as it happens with live commentary of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on GOLD SPORT & iHeartRadio, plus comprehensive coverage on Newstalk ZB.