Bay of Plenty Times
  • Bay of Plenty Times home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport

Locations

  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Katikati
  • Tauranga
  • Mount Maunganui
  • Pāpāmoa
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Bay of Plenty Times

Whangamata surfer Ella Williams to make Olympic debut

Bay of Plenty Times
28 Jun, 2021 10:46 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Our girl has done it.

Ella Williams will be among New Zealand's first Olympic surfers, officially named to the New Zealand team on Monday morning.

Ella and fellow surfer Billy Stairmand secured their Olympic spots with performances at the 2019 International Surfing Association World Games. With last year's world's cancelled,
it meant those marks retained their importance.

"I wouldn't be where I am today without my family so I'm super grateful to have them by my side every step of the way," she said at the media announcement in Piha, Auckland.

Ella is a regular in the lineup at Whangamata while Stairmand is based in Raglan.

Ella has been taking a short break from her work at her parents' surf shop Whangamata Surf, focusing on her training but very much "still around".

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

She described her selection for Tokyo as "so special".

Dad Dean Williams said the attention had been somewhat overwhelming and Ella was concentrating on what she needed to do to prepare for the Olympics.

"You stay in a positive world. She's off social media, and she's concentrating on training."

He said there was huge interest from everyone who entered the shop.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"It's so cool for Whangamata. To produce an Olympian, it's awesome."

Her parents Dean and Janine taught Ella to surf when she was 4. When she was 8, she wrote of her ambition to be world champion on a surfing poster, which was on a wall beside her bed providing a constant ambition.

She remains the only New Zealand surfer to win the women's world junior championship title – and that after receiving a wildcard into the event.

Dean said he and Janine were very proud.

"It's always been a dream of hers, and a dream to be successful. And what an achievement, for the young people and anybody in town to show anybody can do it.

"She's just done it all on her own. It all comes from within, you can't push somebody to be something. That drive is her drive.

"Really, it's her. We're just there behind her."

Stairmand described the announcement as a dream come true.

"Ever since surfing was named as a sport in the Olympics I put it at the top of my goals list.'"

The 31-year-old, who is an eight-times New Zealand surfing champion, said becoming the first male New Zealand Olympic surfer was "huge".

"I'd like to thank everyone who has always backed me and believed in me. Anything is possible if you work hard."

It's been a busy period for Stairmand who, on the weekend, received confirmation that he's qualified for the World Surf League Challenger Series alongside some of the best surfers in the world.

NZOC chief executive Kereyn Smith congratulated the pair.

"It's fantastic to have surfing in the Games and to have a male and female New Zealander representing us in Tokyo," says Smith.

"These athletes will be helping to provide surfing with massive global exposure and will help the Olympic Games reach a new audience. We wish you all the best for competition and will be cheering you on."

Surfing will be making its Olympic debut when competition begins at Tsurigasaki Beach about an hour's drive from Tokyo.

There will be 20 competitors in each class in Tokyo. Wave conditions permitting, competition is due to run from July 25-28.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

It is one of six sports making their debut at the Olympics, along with softball, baseball, sport climbing, skateboarding and karate.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

Premium
Opinion

Opinion: Why Mary Meeker's latest AI insights can't be ignored

13 Jul 05:00 PM
Sport

Sam Ruthe breaks NZ records in LA

Bay of Plenty Times

Tauranga's Sam Ruthe breaks two NZ records in LA

13 Jul 04:58 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

Premium
Opinion: Why Mary Meeker's latest AI insights can't be ignored

Opinion: Why Mary Meeker's latest AI insights can't be ignored

13 Jul 05:00 PM

Influential trends report by 'Queen of the Internet' returns after six-year hiatus.

Sam Ruthe breaks NZ records in LA

Sam Ruthe breaks NZ records in LA

Tauranga's Sam Ruthe breaks two NZ records in LA

Tauranga's Sam Ruthe breaks two NZ records in LA

13 Jul 04:58 AM
Donations save school from brink of closure

Donations save school from brink of closure

13 Jul 12:01 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Bay of Plenty Times e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Bay of Plenty Times
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP