Today, New Zealand athletes competed in 12 sports, including rugby sevens, swimming, and football.
The Black Ferns Sevens aimed to repeat their gold medal success from Tokyo 2020. Swimmers Lewis Clareburt and Erika Fairweather competed, while our rowers faced more heats. The Football Ferns looked to overcome controversy in their match against Colombia.
Swimming: Erika Fairweather
Erika Fairweather’s performance in the women’s 400m freestyle final drew significant attention back home. In Auckland, over 100 swimmers and supporters watched the race on a big screen. Fairweather finished fourth, just missing a medal by 0.26 seconds. Her training partner, Alfie Weatherston-Harvey, praised her effort against tough competition.
Men’s Surfing: Billy Stairmand
In the men’s surfing heats, Billy Stairmand placed third, moving to the elimination bracket. Stairmand initially led his heat but was overtaken by competitors from Morocco and Brazil.
Men’s Football: Oly Whites
The Oly Whites faced a tough match against the USA, losing 4-1. They now need a win against France to advance, depending on other results.
Men’s Rugby Sevens:
Following the Loss in the Quarterfinals, the New Zealand Rugby team faced Ireland and won 17-12. This placed our team 5th in the final standings, disappointing as they were looking for a podium finish.
Canoe Slalom: Luuka Jones
Luuka Jones improved her performance in the second heat of the canoe slalom, securing a spot in the K1 semifinals with a mid-pack finish.
Stay tuned for more updates on our Kiwi athletes as the Paris Olympics continue.
