One athlete to make up NZ taekwondo team in Rio

Andrea Kilday is heading to Rio. Photo / Geoff Sloan

The New Zealand Olympic Committee has today confirmed Andrea Kilday in the New Zealand 2016 Olympic team for Rio competing in the Taekwondo women's under 49kg division.

A formal announcement celebrating Kilday's selection took place this morning at her Browns Bay club - Sejong Taekwondo - on Auckland's North Shore.

Andrea Kilday, 34, has capitalised on some brilliant form in recent years taking gold medals both in 2015 at the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea and again earlier in 2016 at the Oceania Championships and Taekwondo Olympic Qualifying event.

She has gone from strength to strength and has established herself as one of New Zealand's most successful performers on both the national and international stage, winning multiple medals and titles.

Taekwondo New Zealand Secretary General Matt Ransom, says the Taekwondo community is immensely proud of Andrea's achievements and her Olympic selection.

"Taekwondo New Zealand is absolutely delighted for Andrea. She has been consistently performing well at this high level over the last few years and fully deserves her Olympic spot," he said.

"Andrea is a great role model for the sport and she perfectly personifies the humble hard working Kiwi athlete. We believe that she will do New Zealand proud in Rio."

Andrea first took up Taekwondo as a 10 year old in Christchurch at the Hornby taekwondo club, however since 2005 she has been based in Auckland and training at Sejong Taekwondo Club with her coach Jin Keun Oh.

New Zealand Olympic Committee Secretary General Kereyn Smith was on hand to congratulate Andrea on her selection and formally welcome her into the team to Rio.

"Andrea can be incredibly proud of what she has achieved. She has established herself as a role model in her sport and the dedication she has shown for more than 20 years has culminated in Olympic selection," Smith said.

"We look forward to cheering her on in Rio and supporting her over the next five months in the lead up to the Olympic Games."