It’s the end of the line for some big names like John Walker, Sarah Ulmer and Yvette Williams but eight of our best move on in Newshub’s quest to find New Zealand’s Greatest Olympian.
The first round is complete and voting is now open for the quarter finals. We’ll reveal your champion just before the games get under way in Rio.
Check out the round two match-ups below and be sure to place your vote in the poll at the bottom of the page.
Peter Snell vs Murray Halberg
It’s Rome 1960 all over again.
Snell won the gold in the 1500m just minutes before Halberg ran to victory in the 5000m to complete one of the most memorable days in New Zealand Olympic history.
Four years later Snell defended his 1500m title and added the 800m - just the second man in history to complete the middle distance track double.
Danyon Loader vs Barbara Kendall
Both are three-time Olympic medallists.
Kendall claimed Boardsailing gold in 1992, then added silver in Atlanta four years later and completed the set with bronze in Sydney.
Kendall is also the only NZ woman to attend five Olympics, while Loader is our most successful swimmer with silver in 200m Butterfly in Barcelona and double gold in the 200m and 400m Freestyle in Atlanta.
Mark Todd vs Evers-Swindell Twins
Todd can claim a few New Zealand Olympic records including most appearances and most medals (along with Ferguson and MacDonald). Two of Todd’s five medals were gold, both won on-board Charisma in 1984 and 1988 in the Equestrian Individual Eventing.
Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell also have a pair of golds, easing to the Women’s Double Sculls win in 2004, then claiming victory by the slimmest of margins in Beijing.
Ferguson & MacDonald v Valerie Adams
Ian Ferguson and Paul MacDonald are two of New Zealand’s most successful Olympians.
Together they won multiple gold in Los Angeles in 1984 and another in Seoul four years later. They both have five medals, with Ferguson’s four golds making him New Zealand’s Olympic best.
Adams claimed her first gold in Beijing and was eventually crowned Olympic champion four years ago in London, and can become our most successful female Olympian in Rio.
(All images courtesy of Getty)
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