New Zealand at the 2008 Summer Olympics



New Zealand took part in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The country sent 182 competitors, making this its largest ever delegation to the Olympic Games. It was also one of the most successful, equalling New Zealand's combined medal tally from the previous two Summer games. On 16 August – dubbed "Super Saturday" by journalists – New Zealand had its greatest single day at any Olympics, winning 5 medals: two gold, one silver and two bronze. New Zealand also gained its first Olympic track medal since 1976 when Nick Willis won the silver medal in the men's 1500 metres, becoming the sixth New Zealander to win an Olympic medal in that event. The success at the Olympics has boosted Athletics participation since then.

Delegation
New Zealand sent 182 representatives competing in 17 sports. Seventeen-year-old footballer Merissa Smith (born 11 November 1990) was New Zealand's youngest competitor, while 52-year-old equestrian eventer Mark Todd (born 1 March 1956) was the oldest competitor.


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The following is the list of number of competitors participating in the Games. Note that reserves in fencing, field hockey, football, and handball are not counted as athletes:

Athletics

 * Men
 * Track & road events


 * Field events


 * Women
 * Track & road events


 * Field events

* The athlete who finished in second place, Lyudmila Blonska of the Ukraine, tested positive for a banned substance. Both the A and the B tests were positive, therefore Blonska was stripped of her silver medal, and Wardell moved up a position.
 * Combined events – Heptathlon


 * Key
 * Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
 * Q = Qualified for the next round
 * q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
 * NR = National record
 * N/A = Round not applicable for the event
 * Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round

Women's tournament

 * Roster


 * Group play

Sprint
Qualification Legend: QS = Qualify to semi-final; QF = Qualify directly to final

Track

 * Pursuit


 * Omnium

Eventing

 * 1) – Indicates that points do not count in team total

Men's tournament

 * Team roster


 * Group play


 * Classification match for 7th/8th place

Women's tournament

 * Team roster


 * Group play


 * Classification match for 11th/12th place

Men's tournament

 * Roster


 * Group play

Women's tournament

 * Roster


 * Group play

Rowing

 * Men


 * Women

Qualification Legend: FA=Final A (medal); FB=Final B (non-medal); FC=Final C (non-medal); FD=Final D (non-medal); FE=Final E (non-medal); FF=Final F (non-medal); SA/B=Semifinals A/B; SC/D=Semifinals C/D; SE/F=Semifinals E/F; QF=Quarterfinals; R=Repechage

Sailing
New Zealand qualified 1 boat for each of the following events. Although Aaron McIntosh and Mark Kennedy qualified for the Tornado class, they did not compete at these Games.


 * Men


 * Women

M = Medal race; EL = Eliminated – did not advance into the medal race; CAN = Race cancelled
 * Open

Shooting

 * Men


 * Women

Swimming

 * Men


 * Women

Officials

 * Chef de Mission: Dave Currie