New Zealand dish out brutal Tokyo Olympics wake-up lesson to South Africa

New Zealand has hailed its athletes for an “incredible” Tokyo Olympics as the country of just five million burnished its reputation for punching above its weight with a record medals haul.

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According to Reuters, New Zealand claimed seven golds, six silvers and seven bronzes to finish 13th on the medal table, edging countries including South Korea (16) and Spain (22).

By contrast, South Africa, with a population in excess of 60 million, were woeful in picking up just three medals in two sports thanks to two athletes – Tatjana Schoenmaker (gold and silver) and Bianca Buitendag (silver) – who has since retired.

Team SA finished a lowly 52nd in the final medal standings.

It’s worth noting that New Zealand has fewer people in total than those who reside in the Western Cape!

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“There were some incredible performances,” New Zealand chef de mission Robert Waddell told TVNZ on Monday.

“We have really enjoyed how the team has come together.

“I think partly because of the fact that we haven’t had family and friends … over here with us, it has been a really tight-knit team feeling and we’ve all drawn a lot of inspiration from each other’s success.”

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New Zealand’s tally was boosted by canoe sprint sensation Lisa Carrington, who became the country’s most decorated Olympian with a three-gold haul at Tokyo, while claiming her third successive kayak single 200 metres title after Rio and London.

New Zealand’s traditional strengths delivered, with rowing producing three golds and two silvers, the women’s rugby sevens team dominating to win gold and the men taking silver.

But Waddell was thrilled by unexpected minor medals in boxing and trampoline.

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“All those medals were across 11 different sports which is a great thing for New Zealand because it’s not just one sport that’s delivering,” he said.

“What Dylan Schmidt did in trampolining, what David Nyika did in boxing, those show a pathway for other young kids in New Zealand who might be able to follow in those footsteps and achieve at the same sort of level.”

Following on from victory over cricket powerhouse India in the inaugural World Test Championship final in June, the Olympic haul continues New Zealand’s track record of doing more with less.

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