Olympics: Yachting leads gold rush

By Suzanne McFadden

For the first time in New Zealand sports history, yachting has broken the magical million-dollar funding mark in an out-and-out thrust to win Olympic medals.

Sailing, cycling and equestrian have been targeted as the Big Three - the sports most likely to pick up gold in Sydney next year.

Yachting, helped by having boardsailing stars such as Barbara Kendall and Aaron McIntosh, leaves other sports in its wake, receiving $1,131,200 of New Zealand Sports Foundation money.

Cycling banks $747,182 while the coffers of New Zealand's world champion equestrian sport swell to the tune of $717,000.

All in all, New Zealand sport will be given almost $15 million from the foundation, the biggest funding handout ever.

And for the first time, 23 athletes have been hand-picked as medal prospects and will be given special financial treatment.

But in the push for glory across the Tasman in September 2000, most non-Olympic sports have had to take a pay cut.

Sports Foundation chief executive Chris Ineson defended the decision yesterday.

"Some sports have had it a bit lean this time, but it goes in cycles," he said. "We are heading into our biggest Olympic campaign ever - the closest we'll ever get to a home-town Olympics. They are our first priority."

But some non-Olympic codes, like netball and men's softball, have been given extra help in the year of their world championships.

The list of athletes who have been singled out as winner material, to have virtually all the tab picked up for their Olympic campaigns, remains confidential.

"We don't want to put added pressure on these guys and end up with a huge raging public debate over whether they will do it or not," Ineson said. "But it's pretty ballsy stuff to identify 23 athletes who we think could win."

Most of them are obvious. In yachting, world boardsailing champions Kendall and McIntosh are certainties, while their rivals, Bruce Kendall and Jon-Paul Tobin will get funding as well. Europe dinghy sailors Abby Mason and Sharon Ferris figure too.

World champion single sculler Rob Waddell gets a decent chunk of rowing's $466,000 grant, while Beatrice Faumuina has been highlighted as athletics' great hope.

Triathletes Hamish Carter, Paul Amey and Evelyn Williamson, all top-five contenders, have been included in their sport's record payout of $548,000.

Sarah Ulmer, Susy Pryde and Anthony Peden, an Australian who came to New Zealand to win Olympic recognition, have been targeted in cycling, while Blyth Tait, Mark Todd, Vaughn Jefferis and Andrew Nicholson are the obvious recipients in equestrian.

Cycling's team pursuit are understood to be one of three teams included in the special funding, as are women's hockey and equestrian.

The door has not closed on other aspirants yet. A reserve fund of $850,000 has been set aside for latecomers.

Double Olympic gold medallist Danyon Loader is not one of the chosen 23. The foundation is waiting to hear what his Olympic plans are.

The women's rowing eight are being given the chance to prove themselves and finish in the top eight at the world championships next month. The same applies to walker Craig Barrett, who has to finish in the top 10 at the world 50km road championships.

The Foundation hopes to raise an extra $5 million for a bonus funding round early next year.