Paris 2024 Olympics’ Overachievers

by Vincent Juico

At the recently concluded Paris Olympics, New Zealand won Olympic medals (10-7-3). 10 golds, 7 silvers, and 3 bronzes.

It is a remarkable achievement considering the country has a population of only 5.3 million people.

Paris Olympics representation image [Photo by Xavier Praillet on Unsplash] — Representation image [Photo by Xavier Praillet on Unsplash]

According to the NZ Herald, “Athletes from New Zealand logged an impressive haul of 20 medals at Paris 2024, despite having a population of just over 5 million. Their rate of one medal per 258,000 people is the best among nations to win at least four this summer,”

Among the nation’s notable victories, as per NZ Herald, “Of the 10 events New Zealand won at the Paris Olympics, 22 Kiwis were awarded gold medals – boosted by 12 members of the Black Ferns Sevens. Dame Lisa Carrington was a three-time winner while Alicia Hoskin and Ellesse Andrews both won two gold medals. Hamish Kerr and Finn Butcher were the male representatives among the gold medallists.

Of the 20 total medals, 14 were won by females or female teams, with one bronze going to the mixed Nacra team.”

Let us also not forget Lydia Ko winning the gold in women’s o gold, her third consecutive medal after bronze and silver in that order, the previous two Olympics.

The win also puts her in the annals of the LPGA Hall of Fame.

The success of the New Zealand women typifies the wins if you will, of women’s sports the last several years and a nation known for its diversity and inclusion.

The country did better than nations that were expected to win more medals like Canada, Spain, Sweden, and Brazil.

“New Zealand finished 11th on the medal table with 10 gold, seven silver and three bronze, ahead of the likes of Canada, Spain, Sweden and Brazil.”

As the next Olympics in Los Angeles is still four years away, New Zealand doesn’t intend to rest on its overachieving laurels, but build on the success and sustain the momentum to hopefully surpass and overachieve again.

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Vincent Juico

Vincent works as a Resident Services Coordinator for The Pacifica in Auckland, New Zealand where he has been based since 2022. He is also a Sports Columnist for the Business Mirror.