6 Incredible Athletes from New Zealand

Look at any world map, and you’ll see that New Zealand is considerably far away from the rest of the world. For some, it’s a bit of an enigma, but their first thought is usually of the country’s one-of-a-kind natural beauty. New Zealand is known for its incredible fjords, mountains, and beaches, opportunities for adventure tourism, Māori culture, and national obsession with rugby. But what many don’t know is that it is also the home and birthplace of a variety of world-class athletes who have won countless awards, broken records, and simply excelled in the sporting world.

Steven Adams

Considering that there have only been four players from New Zealand in NBA history, it might come as a surprise that there’s a well-known pro basketball player on this list. Steven Adams currently plays for the Houston Rockets but was drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2013. Being a hot prospect due to his sheer athleticism and almost seven-foot height, he was selected as the 12th overall pick.

After his inaugural season, he earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honours. And if fans thought his rookie season was good, they were in for a surprise in consequent years. In 2018, he notably became one of the three Oklahoma City Thunder players to rack up 350 career blocks and at least 3,000 career points – alongside Serge Ibaka and Kevin Durant. Adams’s consistent performance makes him a riveting player to bet on, especially on platforms that offer under 1-hour withdrawals.

Valerie Adams

Valerie Adams is the half-sister of Steven Adams, one of the several athletically gifted siblings and half-siblings from 18 biologically related. Now retired, Adams collected a wealth of accolades in her professional shot put career as a four-time World Champion, three-time Commonwealth Games champion, two-time Olympic champion, four-time World Indoor Champion, and winner of the IAAF Continental Cup twice. And that’s only covering her gold medals – if we were to go through her extensive list of wins and titles, we’d keep you here all day.

She currently holds the record for the longest shot put distance in New Zealand and Oceania with a 21.24 metre outdoor shot put and 20.98 metre indoor shot put. Standing at 6 ft 4 in, her presence is both physically and skilfully mighty, exemplifying her legacy as a shot put legend forever.

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott

Having represented New Zealand in women’s snowboarding in the Winter Olympics, World Championships, and Winter X Games, it’s safe to say Sadowski-Synnott is already one of the country’s most accomplished athletes at the age of 23. She specialises in big air and slopestyle competitions, with big air considered a more ‘extreme’ version of slopestyle. A ski Big Air event was first held in the Olympics in 2022, which Sadowski-Synnott proudly participated in on behalf of New Zealand.

In her seven years of professional competition, Zoi has established a decorated career. She holds many records, including being the first woman to properly land a switch backside 900 in competition and being the youngest female Olympic medallist at just under 17 years old. With so many impressive achievements and gold medals around her neck, Sadowski-Synnott has a long career ahead of her, undoubtedly filled with more and more accomplishments.

Chris Amon

Formula One racing lost a legend in August of 2016 by the name of Christopher Amon. He was one of New Zealand’s – and the world’s – top motor racing drivers in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Growing up on a sheep farm, racing didn’t exactly seem like the most obvious career for Amon. But after many first drives in an Austin A40 Special and progressing to Maserati and Cooper brand race car models, it was clear he was destined to race.

In his early career, he frequently impressed master drivers and important people in the racing world, which led him to many opportunities. Funnily enough, Amon is also well-known for having bad luck with mechanical problems, which cost him too many wins to count. He experienced three broken ribs from an accident when practising for the Italian Grand Prix, seasons that were cut short, and car issues that prevented him from participating in the Monaco GP. Shall we go on? Nevertheless, these setbacks never stopped him from building his extraordinary reputation on the track.

Lydia Ko

Originally from Korea, Lydia Ko emigrated to New Zealand at the age of four and started playing golf when she turned five. Golf and Ko developed an instant connection, but little did she know that she would go on to become the youngest player to be ranked number one in pro golf. And she didn’t just achieve the best overall ranking – she also became the youngest to win an LPGA Tour event, the youngest to win a major championship, and the youngest player to win two women’s major championships. In fact, she’s won the LPGA Tour a total of 20 times.

Ko isn’t just a source of pride for sports in New Zealand but also for women’s sports. She was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People two years running, testifying to her impact on society overall and inspiring young girls to pursue golf.

Jonah Lomu

This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning a star athlete from the country’s national sport, rugby. Jonah Lomu was arguably the first global rugby superstar, putting the game on the map for many sports fans. Not only was his impact on rugby extremely pronounced, but he’s also well-regarded as one of the most talented sports players to ever exist. Sadly, he passed away in 2015 at the age of 40 from a heart attack linked to a serious genetic kidney disorder.

With a childhood characterised by instability, gang violence, and loss, Lomu found solace in sports and eventually left behind a legacy that boasts his skill as an athlete, his humility and passion, charitable efforts, and overall talent. On the field, he was recognised for his massive stature as a wing player and effortless play on the field. He was the youngest All Blacks player during his first international match at 19 years old and went on to set a record of 15 tries in World Cup tournaments.