Medals-laden NZ Games athletes welcomed home
‘‘It’s a bit weird and a bit sad leaving everybody.’’
Nigel Avery
Team New Zealand chef de mission
New Zealand athletes returned home to a heroes’ welcome from the Birmingham Commonwealth Games yesterday – with their biggest gold medal haul.
Family and supporters turned out at Auckland Airport to congratulate Team New Zealand after they claimed 20 gold medals and 49 medals overall – the most ever won by New Zealand at an away Games.
Pole vaulter Imogen Ayris was thrilled to be home after claiming the bronze medal despite suffering a foot fracture.
‘‘It’s so exciting to be home. I couldn’t be happier to be back,’’ said Ayris.
‘‘If anything, it makes it more special to be able to do it with a fractured foot. Mum came to pick me up and I’ll go home and see all my friends later.’’
Paraswimmer Jesse Reynolds had an emotional reunion with family, after he emerged into the arrivals area with his medal hanging proudly around his neck.
‘‘It’s so good to be back. It’s a long trip home,’’ Reynolds said.
‘‘Thanks to everyone for coming out. It’s been really cool to be welcomed home and to have my family here is just awesome, to finally be able to see them after winning the medal. It’s really special.’’
Bronze medal-winning boxer Uila Mau’u had rest and relaxation on his mind after completing the campaign.
‘‘Seafood boil up, KFC and Burger King, that’s what I’m doing straight after this,’’ he said.
Mau’u admits he had gold ambitions, but is thrilled with what he achieved at the Games.
White Ferns T20 cricketer Izzy Gaze was beaming with pride after the side claimed the bronze medal with an eight-wicket win over host country England.
‘‘It was really special to get out there with the girls and to play every game was really cool – and to come away with a medal was even better,’’ Gaze said.
Team New Zealand’s chef de mission Nigel Avery said he was proud of the athletes’ collective efforts and highlighted their winning performances over their record medal tally.
‘‘Regardless of how they went it was going to be an amazing experience,’’ said Avery.
‘‘We had an amazing group of Kiwis. But 20 golds is pretty spectacular. I didn’t have any preconceived ideas of what we would or could get, but when they started rolling in, we’ll take them. It was a great team effort.’’
The former Olympian and fivetime Commonwealth Games medallist said he was already missing the camaraderie that had developed in the group over the last 81⁄2 weeks.
‘‘It’s a bit weird and a bit sad leaving everybody. It’s a bit like
leaving a school camp, you come home and you can’t see your mates.’’
Cyclist Aaron Gate was responsible for the medal that tipped this year’s team into the history books, taking gold in the men’s road race after already winning gold three times on the track. That brought the total up to 18, but there was still more in the tank for the Kiwis, who finished with 20 gold medals.
The previous record was a haul of 17 in Auckland in 1990.
The team also brought home 12 silver and 17 bronze for a total of 49 medals.