Eliza McCartney, New Zealand's newest sporting star, has completed her meteoric rise and received a bronze medal in today's ceremony.
McCartney was ebullient after clinching a spot on the Olympic podium in the women's pole vault final, and she was in equally joyful mood when taking her place 24 hours later.
The 19-year-old was yesterday the toast of Kiwi sport after pulling off a stunning bronze medal performance in Rio. McCartney equalled her personal best of 4.80m to nail the third place on a countback from Australian Alana Boyd and nothing could shake the excitement from her.
"My cheeks are so sore and my eyes are red from crying. I'm so happy," she said yesterday.
McCartney was ranked eighth going into the event and winning a medal was still a tall order for a jumper who only joined the senior ranks at the world indoor championships in Portland, Oregon in March.
