Jamie Kawiti (left) and Rhiannon O'Neill starred for Mount Maunganui's Team KO at the TNZ Open 2015 in Auckland. Photo / Andrew Warner
Jamie Kawiti (left) and Rhiannon O'Neill starred for Mount Maunganui's Team KO at the TNZ Open 2015 in Auckland. Photo / Andrew Warner
A lifelong dream to compete at the Olympic Games is a step closer for Mount Maunganui taekwondo fighter Rhiannon O'Neill.
The long-time national under-62kg champion and highly-qualified second dan black-belt holder will represent New Zealand at the Pacific Games in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea from July 4 to 18.
It is the largest sporting event to be held in Papua New Guinea with 4000 athletes and officials attending.
O'Neill, a silver medallist at the Oceania Games in Sydney last year, qualified for the Pacific Games at the TNZ Open held at the North Shore Events Centre last month.
"The Olympics are my main goal and I have always wanted to go. These Pacific games are pretty important. If I get a good spot in this competition, it opens up a pretty big door for Rio," she said.
O'Neill was one of 17 fighters from Mount Maunganui's Team KO club to win eight gold, seven silver and three bronze medals up against 400 fighters from throughout New Zealand and Australia. The club is run by Master Kesi O'Neill, New Zealand head coach for the Pacific Games and a chief selector for the Rio Olympics. "The Pacific Games is the start of the journey to Rio with key tournaments taking place before we are back in Papua New Guinea for the Rio Olympics selection," he said.
Jamie Kawiti and Rhiannon O'Neil, New Zealand taekwondo representative. Photo / Andrew Warner
"I am quite happy with how our club is going because now we have quite a few cadets and juniors coming through. I am taking a group of 12 of our best to the Malaysian Open in August to get them used to international events."
The club's top junior Jamie Kawiti, 16, won the revered trophy for the Fighter of the Tournament at the TNZ Open. The Mount Maunganui College student went to the junior worlds last year in Taiwan and is eligible again this year.
"It was a great experience seeing how the overseas fighters present themselves and how they fight," Kawiti said. "I then took a bit of a break after the tournament. I have just got back into it this year and this was my first tournament. I didn't expect to win the trophy. I had four fights against two New Zealanders and two Aussies and won them all."
His mentor has no doubts he has the qualities needed to make it in the sport.
"Jamie has made progress since he was 9 years old," said Master Kesi. "He is still progressing and has been a national champion for quite a while."
