Beijing gold medallists Valerie Vili and Tom Ashley head a long list of young New Zealanders who have gone on to the world's biggest sporting stage after first having their talents recognised in the annual New Zealand Herald Junior Sports Awards.
Vili and Ashley join others, including Rob
Waddell, Sarah Ulmer, Alan Thompson and Jeff Archibald as those recognised by the awards' judges to have gone on to stand atop the Olympic dais.
The team at Beijing included several athletes who have been named among the award winners, or highly commended.
Ryan Archibald (a winner in 1997), who followed his father Jeff as an award winner _ the first father and son so recognised _ led the hockey team while Hayley Moorwood (2003) captained the women's soccer team and played alongside Kirsty Yallop who was highly commended in 2004. Simon Child (2007) also played in the men's hockey team.
Perennial Olympian Julian Dean won his award in 1994 as did Finn sailor Dan Slater.
In earlier times, Waddell (1993) and Beatrice Faumuina (1992) were winners.
Vili was one of five winners in 2001 with Ashley highly commended the following year with badminton singles player John Moody among that year's winners.
Marina Erakovic had her tennis talents recognised in 2004 after being highly commended two years earlier.
Corney Swanepoel, a member of the team who surprised in reaching the 4x100m medley relay final, won in 2003. Fellow swim team member Melissa Ingram a year earlier.
Peter Burling and Carl Evans (470 yachting), single sculler Emma Twigg and basketballer Jessica McCormick were three of the 2006 winners.
It was fitting Vili should win gold this year _ 56 years after Yvette Williams won New Zealand's first women's track and field medal. From the inception of the awards in 1967 until two years ago when she stood down, Williams was a member of the judging panel.
