1912 Olympic gold medal winner Malcolm Chapmion was descended from HMS Bounty mutineers and the first Olympian to win gold. Photo / www.olympic.org.nz
Valerie Adams? Mahe Drysdale? They're just the latest names in a long line of kiwis to take the podium at the Olympics.
To celebrate New Zealand winning its 100th Olympic medal today, here's a look back at five of our less known Olympians:
Malcolm Champion: Gold, 1912
Born on
Norfolk Island, descended from Bounty mutineers, Champion was the first New Zealander to win a gold, as part of the Australasian team at the 1912 Stockholm Games. A brilliant swimmer, he became the custodian of Auckland's Tepid Baths in later years and used to commute to and from work from his house on the North Shore by swimming across the Waitemata Harbour.
Harry Kerr: Bronze, 1908
The first New Zealander to win a medal was Harry Kerr, the bronze medallist in 3500m walk in 1908 at London. He was so fit, even into his 40s, that he won NZ national champs walking at age 46, a feat that the New Zealand Herald called "little short of marvellous". He once built his own walking track around his house.
Marise Chamberlain: Bronze, 1964
Marise is the first and, so far, only New Zealand woman to win an Olympic medal on the track, although Lorraine Moller won a medal in the marathon. A blistering middle distance runner, she was part of an extraordinary final at Tokyo in 1964 in the 800m race in which the top five runners all beat the Olympic record.
