Canterbury Olympians

This page looks at Olympians with a local Canterbury connection.

Upcoming Games

  • Winter Games - Milano Cortina, 6-22 February 2026
  • Paralympic Winter Games - Milano Cortina, 6-15 March 2026
  • Summer Games - Los Angeles, 14-30 July 2028
  • Paralympic Summer Games - Los Angeles, 15-27 August 2028

Paralympian Graham Condon

Graham Condon won a total of 36 medals, including seven golds in his Paralympic career.

His life ended tragically in 2007 when he was struck by a car while riding his hand-propelled bicycle.

The Graham Condon Recreation and Sport Centre in Papanui was named in his honour.

1910-1920

Photo
Australasian tennis team in the international competitions [1905] — Anthony Wilding is second from right, CCL PhotoCD 16, IMG0011
Anthony Wilding was one of Christchurch’s most famous tennis players, but the Wimbledon champion also represented his country at the Olympics. Anthony Wilding: A Sporting life puts his achievements alongside those of Jack Lovelock.

 

See his profile on the NZ Olympic Committee website.

1930-1940

Jack Lovelock grew up in South Canterbury and was a doctor, athlete, military man and journalist. Fellow Timaru Boys’ High student Graeme Woodfield has written one of the most comprehensive biographies of the man who won gold in the mile race at Berlin in 1936.

Four years earlier Cyril Stiles, known as Bob, and Fred ‘Rangi’ Thompson won silver in Los Angeles in 1932. This was New Zealand's first Olympic rowing medal. Thompson, according to the his profile on the NZ Olympic Committee site, worked at Wilson Tanneries in Woolston, lost his arm in an industrial accident, and later became a greengrocer in High Street. Both men continued their association with the Avon Club staying active in the sport as coaches, and the boat they won the silver medal in, Tui, remains in the clubs rooms.

1950-1960

Peter Mander and Jack Cropp both lived in the eastern suburbs of Christchurch and were New Zealand’s first yachting representatives. They won gold at Melbourne in 1956 after a French protest led to the disqualification of the Australian team.

1960-1970

Valerie Sloper (Young) represented New Zealand at Tokyo in 1964 and also had tremendous Commonwealth Games success. She was born in Ashburton.

Boxer Brian Maunsell also went to the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Ian Ballinger won 1968 Olympic bronze in Mexico in smallbore shooting. He was 43, and the teams oldest member. The country’s most famous shooter later opened a firearms store in Christchurch.

1970-1980

Rowers Athol Earl and John Hunter were gold medal winners in Munich in 1972, and Earl won bronze in Montreal in 1976. Hunter attended the 1968 Olympics and also was later an official for the New Zealand rowing team.

Lindsay Wilson of Methven also shared Olympic glory, as did Gary Robertson. Robertson had a stint in Christchurch as a rubbish collector and as Rangi Ruru rowing coach. He was born in Oamaru. Robertson was instrumental in setting up the rowing club at the Rangi Ruru and has seen Rangi Ruru become the powerhouse of national schoolgirls’ rowing.

In 1976, hockey players Barry Maister and Selwyn Maister won gold at Montreal along with Paul Ackerley, Arthur Borren, John Christensen, and Tony Ineson. All of these men played for the University club. Alan Chesney played for Harewood.

Annelise Coberger was the first person from the Southern Hemisphere to win a medal at the Winter Olympics. She took silver in the slalom at Albertville in France in 1992. She also won several World Cup podium places.

1980 -1990

Neroli Fairhall was an Olympian archer in Los Angeles in 1984 and a Paralympian who competed in several games. She won the gold in the Brisbane 1982 Commonwealth Games.

Chris Timms won a yachting gold in 1984 and silver in 1988 with Nelson’s Rex Sellers.

2000 - 2012

Donna Wilkins (formerly Loffhagen) is best-known as a Silver Fern netballer, but she has represented New Zealand at Olympic level in basketball.

Cyclist Hayden Roulston won the silver medal in the men’s 4000m individual pursuit and a bronze medal in the men’s 4000m team pursuit.

2012 London Olympics

Medal winners

Double scull rowers Nathan Cohen and Joseph Sullivan of Christchurch won the gold medals.

Competitors

2012 London Paralympics

Medal winners

Sophie Pascoe from Christchurch won 3 gold and 3 silver medals in swimming. Laura Thompson also from Christchurch won a gold, a silver, and a bronze medal in para cycling.

2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics

The Rio de Janeiro games took place from 5 to 21 August 2016 in Brazil.

Medal winners

Natalie Rooney of Waimate won silver in women's trap shooting and Tom Walsh of Timaru won bronze in the men's shot put.

Competitors

2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics

Medal winners

Sophie Pascoe from Christchurch won 3 gold and 2 silver medals. William Stedman also from Christchurch won 2 bronze medals in athletics. Laura Thompson from Christchurch won a silver and and a bronze medal in para cycling.

Competitors

2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics

The Pyeonchang winter games took place 9 to 25 February 2018 in South Korea.

Competitors

2020 Tokyo Olympics

The Tokyo games took place 23 July to 9 August 2021 in Japan and was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Medal winners

Grace Prendergast from Christchurch won gold in the women's coxless pairs and silver in the women's eight in rowing. She was joined in the latter win by Christchurch teammates Ella Greenslade and Lucy Spoors. Also in rowing Sam Bosworth from Waipara won gold as the cox in the men's eight. Amanaki Nicole was part of the silver winning men's rugby sevens team. And Tom Walsh from Timaru claimed bronze in the men's shot put.

Competitors

2020 Tokyo Paralympics

The 2020 Tokyo Paralympics were on 24 August to 5 September 2021 in Japan.

Medal winners

Sophie Pascoe from Christchurch won 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medals in swimming. William Stedman, also from Christchurch won a silver and a bronze in athletics.

Competitors

2024 Paris Olympics

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games took place from 26 July to 11 August 2024.

Medal winners

Jorja Miller from Timaru won gold in Rugby sevens. Other gold medals winners were Lucy Spoors in women's double sculls, and Hamish Kerr in men's high jump. Phoebe Spoors won bronze as part of the Women's four rowing team.

Competitors

2024 Paris Paralympics

The 2024 Paris Paralympics are on 28 August to 8 September 2024.

More profiles

Profiles from the New Zealand Olympic Committee website:

Print this page