Chief executive Kereyn Smith told the annual public meeting of the Academy of Sport South Island at the Otago Daily Times Gallery in the Dunedin Public Art Gallery last night that the Olympics marked an important watershed for her organisation.
Dunedin was made the headquarters of the South Island-based Academy eight years ago and the success of the venture was emphasised by the Beijing Olympics.
Smith said there were 23 athletes from the South Island competing and 16 support staff at the Games.
Beijing saw New Zealand enjoy its best medal haul since the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
"The success is even greater than just the medals with 27 athletes finishing in the top eight in the world," Smith said.
Raylene Bates, the business manager of the Academy of Sport in Dunedin, was manager of the track and field team and spoke about her experiences in Beijing.
"The Olympics is a big step up from the world championships and the Commonwealth Games," Bates said.
"The athletes were under intense stress and emotional strain. The team felt they were shouldering the hopes of the nation."
In one three-day period during the Olympics, Bates had just five hours sleep.
"It was so intense. I became a walking zombie," Bates said.
Helen Littleworth (physiotherapist) and Craig Palmer (cycling coach) also shared their experiences at the meeting.
"I saw the extremes of emotions from elation from those who won medals to the despair of those who hit rock bottom at Beijing," Littleworth said.
Palmer, a sports scientist, came into his role as cycling coach of double medallist Hayden Roulston and Alison Shanks who finished fourth, from a background in athletics coaching.
He had cycled a bit in the past but had spent several years as an athletics coach before switching to cycling.
He brought a new model to the task from his background as a sports scientist.
"My strategy was based on the first principles," he said.
Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken also spoke at the meeting. The multitalented Kieran Fowler was one of 15 new recipients of a Prime Minister's scholarship honoured at the meeting.
Fowler (19) is the current New Zealand 19-and-under 110m hurdles and discus champion and competed at the world junior track and field championships at Beijing in 2006.
He plays rugby for Pirates and was one of the most promising wings in Dunedin premier rugby last winter.
Others who received a Prime Minster's scholarship included: Anna Harvey (athletics), Shane Patience (swimming), Sian Jones-White (rowing), Carla Hohepa (rugby), Lauren Campbell, Edward Dawkins, Kashi Leuchs, Matthew Scoles (bike), Bess Halley, Jamie Orsbourn (rowing), James Hamilton, Will Harris (snowboarding), Nathan McCullum (cricket) and Daniel O'Shea (athletics).
Scholarships awarded to support staff went to: Helen Littleworth (physiotherapist), Chris Donaldson (strength and conditioning), Sheryl Dickinson (physiotherapist), Simon Brebner (doctor) and Virginia Bush (physiotherapist).
