Athletics
Forever No 1? Williams (Corlett) paved the way for women, broke the mould and was a pioneer for athletics. The Dunedin star was the first New Zealand woman to win an Olympic gold medal, in the long jump in Helsinki in 1952. Two years later, she set a world record, and she won gold medals at the Empire Games in long jump (1950 and 1954), shot put and discus (1954). Williams died in 2019, but was posthumously made a dame for services to athletics.
Lisa Carrington
Canoeing
New Zealand’s most successful Olympian won three consecutive K1 200m golds (2012, 2016, 2020), and gold in the K1 500m and K2 500m (both 2020). She was named sportswoman of the year five times in the Halberg Awards (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021) and won the supreme award twice (2016 and 2021). You get the feeling there is still more to come from this incredible athlete.
Valerie Adams
Athletics
There has never been another quite like her. Adams was the queen of shot put, winning two Olympic golds, three Commonwealth Games golds, four world championship titles and three indoor world championship titles. Not to mention her world youth and junior championships, and world cup crowns.
Lydia Ko
Golf
Became the youngest No 1 golfer in the world at 17, having become the youngest player at 15 to win an LPGA event and the only amateur to win two LPGA events. She has won countless events since, consistently maintaining her spot in the top echelon of golf, and is creating a better future as a player director on the LPGA board. At only 25, there is plenty still to come for Ko.
Susan Devoy
Squash
You know you have created a legacy when people still know your name 30 years after you retire. Devoy, a four-time world champion, was the queen of the court, winning the major British Open eight times. When she retired in the 1990s, Devoy was the Australian, British, French, Hong Kong, Scottish, Swedish and world champion.
Barbara Kendall
Yachting
The woman affectionately known as ‘‘Barbs’’ made her mark on the board and backed it up off the water. The sailboarder was New Zealand’s second female to win gold at the Olympics (1992) and got the full complement with silver (1996) and bronze (2000). Off the board, Kendall helped sport immensely, as the Oceania athletes’ representative on the International Olympic Committee from 2005 to 2008, and again as an elected member in 2011. She sat on the three IOC commissions — athletes, women and sport, and sport and environment — and was a member of the New Zealand Olympic Committee Athletes Commission.
Sophie Pascoe
Para swimming
Pascoe made a splash when she entered the scene and is yet to slow down. The S10 and SB9 swimmer is New Zealand’s most successful Paralympian, winning 11 gold medals, seven silvers and one bronze. Also won five Commonwealth Games golds and multiple world championship titles. A true champion of the sport.
Evers-Swindell twins
Rowing
A package deal. Caroline Meyer and Georgina Earl (married names) were unstoppable during their time in the boat, winning two Olympic golds and three world championships. Showed determination, grit and proved anything is possible when you believe in yourself — even if others don't believe in you.
Irene Van Dyk
Netball
When van Dyk moved from South Africa to New Zealand, all anyone could initially talk about was her taking the spot of Kiwi shooters. But van Dyk changed the game around the world and left the Silver Ferns in a better place for her knowledge, accuracy and court-craft. Still regarded as the best goal shoot in the world for her era. Nine years on from her international retirement, van Dyk remains the most capped international netballer with 217 games to her name (145 New Zealand, 72 South Africa).
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott
Snowboarding
There is still so much to come in this wonderful woman’s career. Rode her way to immortality after winning New Zealand’s first Winter Olympic gold medal in the women’s slopestyle last year. She also picked up silver in the big air. Won the women’s slopestyle at the world championships in 2019, and has countless X Games medals. One to keep a very close eye on in the future — maybe she could jump right to the top of this list.
Honourable mentions: Sarah Ulmer, Courtney Duncan, Joelle King, Beatrice Faumuina, Farah Palmer, Erin Baker, Annelise Coberger, Laura Langman, Val Young, Debbie Hockley.
