New Zealand equals second best World University Games

New Zealand equals second best World University Games tally

New Zealand has equalled its second best effort at a World University Games winning one gold, three silver medals and one bronze.

Competition for the New Zealand Team competing at the Games in Gwangju, South Korea ended today.

The five medals won at these Games equals the five won at the World University Games in Izmir, Turkey in 2005.

New Zealand also won its first Summer Universiade medal in rowing when Toby Cunliffe-Steel won silver in the men’s lightweight single scull.

New Zealand’s best effort at a Summer Universiade was in Shenzhen, China in 2011 when the team won 12 medals, all in swimming. At the last Games in 2013 in Kazan, Russia, Brent Newdick won New Zealand’s only medal - a bronze in decathlon.

Chef de Mission Christine Arthur said to end the Gwangju Games with five medals including one gold was outstanding considering the quality of the fields across all sports.

``The Universiade is a priority event for many countries which bring their top athletes as preparation for world championships and as an initiation to a multi-sport games environment before the Olympic Games so it's great to see New Zealand competing and achieving against such a high calibre of athletes,’’ Arthur said.

``This year our team has been one of our most successful teams at a Universiade ever and I believe it will be a springboard for many of these athletes into senior New Zealand teams.’’

New Zealand sent a team of 66 athletes from seven sports to the Games. Athletics, with 30 athletes, sent its largest ever contingent to the Games and swimming also sent a large team of 16. The New Zealand Team also included athletes from diving, table tennis, rowing, fencing and artistic gymnastics.

New Zealand’s five medals were won by:
Angie Petty – gold in the 800m
Toby Cunliffe-Steel – silver in the men’s lightweight single scull
Eliza McCartney – silver in women’s pole vault
Camille Buscomb - silver in the women’s 5000m
Julia Ratcliffe – bronze in the women’s hammer throw

The final day of competition at the Games is tomorrow, with the closing ceremony on14 July.

ENDS

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