Rio Olympics 2016: Where will the medals come from?

Reporter·NZ Herald·

11 Aug, 2016 06:00 AM3 mins to read

Silver medallists New Zealand during the medal ceremony for women's rugby sevens. Photo / AP

With the first week mark of the Rio Olympics looming, it is time to recalibrate New Zealand's progress towards their record projected medal haul.

Initially the Herald employed a complex system of statistics, rumour and hunches to list no less than 32 capable candidates.

The model was by no means scientific, but indicates this New Zealand team should triumph like no other in the country's Games history.

Only a patriotic fantasist could believe the country could return anywhere near 32, but it was a promising frame of reference.

Two silvers - and one, in Natalie Rooney's trap silver, not predicted - mean the gong cabinet looks sparse.

Sir Mark Todd's four dropped rails in the eventing's showjumping round, cyclist Linda Villumsen's sixth in the road time trial, the men's sevens ejection from the quarter-finals and the rowing semi-final exit of men's and women's double scullers mean the New Zealand team has struggled on several fronts.

High Performance Sport New Zealand targeted 14 medals which looked served with a dollop of modesty considering the addition of Kiwi medal prospects like rugby sevens and golf to the programme.

The women's sevens silver medal is gaining status by the day.

Tomorrow the prospects look more promising with Hamish Bond and Eric Murray competing in the rowing men's coxless pair, James Hunter, James Lassche, Alsitair Bond and Peter Taylor racing the lightweight four and world champion cyclists Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins competing in the team sprint.

According to the HPSNZ's Games media pack, the taxpayer has invested $175 million across the Olympic cycle to ensure elite sporting success is seen to "lead to both international prestige for the nation, inspiring the nation, and importantly, to an increase in participation among the masses."

New Zealand's previous best medal returns were 13 at Seoul in 1988 (three gold, two silver, eight bronze) and London in 2012 (six gold, two silver, five bronze).

The most gold medals collected was eight - all sitting down - at Los Angeles in 1984.

Athletics

Women's shot put: Valerie Adams

Cycling

Men's team sprint: Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster, Eddie Dawkins
Women's road time trial: Linda Villumsen (NO, finished 6th)

Canoeing

Women's K1 200m: Lisa Carrington
Women's K1 500m: Lisa Carrington

Golf

Women: Lydia Ko

Rowing

Women's double sculls: Zoe Stevenson and Eve Macfarlane (NO, ousted in semi-finals)
Men's coxless pair: Eric Murray and Hamish Bond

Sailing

Men's 49er: Blair Tuke and Peter Burling

Rowing

Men's single sculls: Mahe Drysdale
Women's single sculls: Emma Twigg
Men's lightweight coxless four

Rugby sevens

Women (ACHIEVED)

Swimming

Women's 800m: Lauren Boyle

Athletics

Men's shot put: Tom Walsh

Cycling

Men's team pursuit: Piet Bulling, Regan Gough, Dylan Kennett, Aaron Gate, Hayden Roulston

Hockey

Women

Rugby sevens

Men (NO, ousted in quarter-finals)

Sailing

Women's 470: Polly Powrie and Jo Aleh

Rowing

Women's lightweight double sculls: Sophie Mackenzie and Julia Edward
Women's coxless pair: Rebecca Scown and Genevieve Behrent
Women's eight

Athletics

Men's 1500m: Nick Willis
Women's pole vault: Eliza McCartney

Cycling

Men's keirin: Eddie Dawkins
Women's team pursuit: Rushlee Buchanan, Jaime Nielsen, Racquel Sheath, Lauren Ellis, Georgia Williams

Equestrian

Individual and/or team eventing: Sir Mark Todd, Jonelle Price, Jock Paget, Clarke Johnstone (NO, fourth in team eventing/Clarke Johnstone sixth in individual)