Darcina Manuel added to NZ Olympic Judo team

Kiwi Judo star Darcina Manuel. Photo / Greg Bowker.

Perth-based judoka Darcina Manuel has been added to the New Zealand Olympic team for the Rio Games in August.

Manual, 23, won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 and has performed strongly since then in the 57kg division to win her spot.

"For 16 years I have been working towards this goal and it means the world to me," Manuel, from Gisborne, said.

Balancing work commitments with a full training schedule, dogged determination and commitment has paid off for Manuel with a gold medal at the Oceania championships in Canberra this year.

"Darcina has worked extremely hard for this and with a string of strong results to her name the New Zealand judo community is excited to be backing and following her progress towards Rio," Judo New Zealand president Derek Maggs said.

"It is great to see her inspiring the young generations of judokas coming through."
The Olympic judo competition will run from August 6-12 in the Barra Olympic Park with athletes from around 125 countries to take part.

Manuel's selection brings New Zealand's team up to 104, with weightlifting, rugby sevens, women's hockey and equestrian announcements to come in the next few weeks.