KEY POINTS:
If you rate the success of an Olympic Games campaign in purely medal terms, New Zealand have had a decent time of it in Beijing.
With medals still available for New Zealand athletes today (Steven Ferguson in the K1 500m final, taekwondo athlete Matthew Beach, and mountainbikers Rosara Joseph and Kaschi Leuchs) the total haul stands at nine.
After a barren first week, that is the best overall return since Barcelona 16 years ago (if it stays at 9), equal to Athens in 2004, Atlanta (1996) and Seoul (1988) in terms of gold and well behind the benchmark for champion performances, Los Angeles in 1984, where eight golds were gathered.
New Zealand have won more gold medals in Beijing than Canada, Korea, Cuba, Argentina and South Africa; more medals than Brazil, Romania, India, Norway and the Czech Republic.
In terms of punching above their weight, this was a good Olympics.
Before the Games began, those rated a firm gold medal prospect were shot putter Valerie Vili, single sculler Mahe Drysdale, double scullers Rob Waddell and Nathan Cohen, board sailor Tom Ashley and BMX world No 1 Sarah Walker.
Vili psychologically crushed her rivals with her first _ and winning _ throw; Ashley pinched the gold in the medal race.
But Drysdale was cruelly undone by illness, his bronze a remarkable achievement in the circumstances, Waddell and Cohen lost their way from the semifinal and Walker finished fourth.
The third gold went to Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell by the closest possible margin in the double sculls final, 0.01s ahead of the Germans.
In some sports, New Zealand remains at or near the forefront, rowing being the prime example. Sailing could argue that with one gold and a clutch of not-far-offs, they are on the way back after a grim Athens regatta.
So, too, cycling where Hayden Roulston inspired a double pursuit success and Bevan Docherty's bronze in the men's triathlon maintained New Zealand's place at the multisport top table.
Nick Willis' terrific run for 1500m bronze relit New Zealand's middle distance flame after a 32-year break.
Set aside the medal winners for a moment. Awards for commendable efforts should include ...
Swimmer Moss Burmester, fourth in the 200m butterfly in which he gave Michael Phelps an early fright and turned for home second to the great American.
Alison Shanks, who rode for the bronze in the women's individual pursuit and finished fourth.
Young Balclutha marksman Robbie Eastham was one point off a place in the 50m prone shootoff.
The men's Black Sticks, who finished seventh, could have made the semifinals.
Robyn Cheong, who made the last eight of her taekwondo division before losing to the eventual gold medallist.
Then there were those who let the side down, prominent among those being the winless women's Black Sticks and discus thrower Beatrice Faumuina.
The government's sports funding arm Sparc, will have studied the results, and will be turning over numbers.
Sailing, rowing, equestrian, swimming, triathlon and cycling were identified in 2006 for special support on the basis they offered the best prospect of success leading through to the London Olympics.
Equestrian was capable of better; swimming is always up against it in world terms but the rest offered returns for their investment.
There is a contestable funding process for others. Some sports will need to sharpen their arguments. Tough questions lie ahead.
* Courtesy of Television New Zealand, www.tvnz.co.nz/beijing2008.
