Luke Kirkness: How Peter Burling cemented himself on the Mt Rushmore of NZ sport

OPINION

Peter Burling has just cemented his place on the Mt Rushmore of New Zealand sports heroes.

The woes of Dean Barker, San Francisco and Jimmy Spithill in 2013 are long behind us now.

On Wednesday, helmsman Burling led Team New Zealand to back-to-back America's Cup victories after first winning it in Bermuda in 2017.

The Tauranga hometown hero is also an Olympic gold and silver medalist in the 49er class and has nine sailing world championships to his name.

For me, he sits alongside Richie McCaw, Kane Williamson and Lisa Carrington.

McCaw is a lock-in, and arguments can probably be made for Dan Carter, Scott Dixon, Mahé Drysdale, Valerie Adams, Sir Mark Todd, or Sir Richard Hadlee.

Peter Burling lifts the Auld Mug as Team New Zealand celebrate their America's Cup win. Photo / Getty Images

However, for my eyes, it's McCaw, Williamson, Carrington, and now Burling.

Of course, Burling mightn't be up there without the support he gets from his fellow racers, especially Blair Tuke who has shared the spoils with him in the 49ers class.

But that is what makes him so great - to be able to lead a team of the world's best (sailors in this case) to America's Cup victory. And he's done it twice.

You might not be a yacht racing fan, heck, I don't even know what they're up to half of the time but if you don't enjoy those spaceships zipping around the Waitematā Harbour then you might want to get your ticker checked.

It's not like they were normal sailboats either, the race was contested by 75-foot (around 22 metres) foiling monohulls that could reach speeds as high as 50 knots (93km/h).

And not only did Team New Zealand have the best team, but we also beat the competitors who could tap into some of the world's wealthiest individuals.

There have been suggestions in the past Team New Zealand could take the 37th America's Cup offshore for their next defence, but we can't let that happen.

We also need to strive to find a way to keep a hold of our talent, the Burlings, the Tukes, Glenn Ashby, and the rest of the crew.

Photo / Rod Emmerson

Competitors will try their best to reel in the best talent they can find to weaken us, so that means casting big bucks in front of Team New Zealand's crew's eyes. I just hope we can encourage them to stay.

Whatever the future holds, Burling has solidified his place among our greatest athletes after smashing Luna Rossa in a 7-3 victory.

What makes an athlete so great? For me, it's a competitive spirit, leadership, humility, focus, poise under stress, resilience, killer instinct, and many more.

Burling has all that in spades.

What's more, the greats all inspire others and I would bank on Burling having done that, if not already but certainly after Wednesday.

There is no doubt in my mind we will see a future Peter Burling on the water in future America's Cups with the silver fern displayed proudly on their chest.