Sport / Olympics 2024

Olympics 2024: NZ athletes to watch on day 15 of the Paris Games

16:24 pm on 10 August 2024

Hamish Kerr struggled at a lower height in qualifying, before soaring into the final at the 2.27m mark. Photo: AFP/BEN STANSALL

Aimee Fisher and Dame Lisa Carrington vie for glory on Saturday night in the K1 500m, Lydia Ko continues her Olympic quest and Hamish Kerr has high hopes for a high jump medal on day 15 of the Paris Games.

Due to the time difference, day 15 begins on Saturday evening and carries through to Sunday morning NZT.

Here's who to look out for. All times are in NZT.

For the full schedule of New Zealand athletes' events, click here.

Lydia Ko is tied first equal after the third round in the women's tournament. Photo: AFP/EMMANUEL DUNAND

Lydia Ko, women's golf tournament round four, 7pm Saturday - 4am Sunday

Ko is tied first equal with Morgane Metraux of Switzerland as she competes in round 4 at Le Golf National.

Competing in her third Games, Ko is [hoping to add a gold medal to the silver she won in Rio and the bronze in Tokyo.

The course has posed challenges for some of the game's top players, including Nelly Korda of the United States and Celine Boutier of France.

"I think this is the toughest golf course we've played in the past three Games," Ko said.

Can Aimee Fisher (left) topple Dame Lisa Carrington from her perch? Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Dame Lisa Carrington and Aimee Fisher, K1 500m sprint semi-finals from 8.30pm

Dame Lisa takes to the water for the last time in the Paris Games, having won gold in both the women's kayak fours on Thursday and the women's kayak doubles on Friday.

She is on track for a gold-medal showdown with Aimee Fisher, after both blitzed the field in their heats of the women's single kayak sprint.

The final - which has been earmarked as an historic event for NZ sport - is at 11pm.

"It is awesome for New Zealand Aotearoa to have two wahine at the absolute peak of their powers in this event," Fisher told First Up's Nathan Rarere.

Shaane Fulton (centre) and Ellesse Andrews (right) are competing in the individual sprint. Photo: SW Pix / www.photopsort.nz

Ellesse Andrews and Shaane Fulton, women's sprint quarter-finals, 3am Sunday

Fresh off her gold-medal victory in the women's keirin Andrews moves on to the individual sprint event, where she is currently ranked fourth in the world.

Fulton has recovered from a near career-ending hip injury back to full fitness and was part of the trio who won a surprise silver medal in the sprint relay earlier this week.

Sam Dakin, left, is coming off his best year. Photo: RNZ / Nick Monro

Sam Dakin, men's keirin heats, 3.19am Sunday

Sam Dakin - the sole male sprinter in the men's cycling team - is coming off his best year, where he is ranked seventh on Olympic rankings in the keirin.

In this event, riders follow a motorbike for several laps before a sprint finish. Tactics are key - and riders need to be alert, after a nasty crash in the women's keirin quarter-finals on Friday.

Gate (left) and Stewart at the Nations Cup in March. Photo: Alex Whitehead / SWpix.com

Aaron Gate and Campbell Stewart, men's madison final, 3.59am

With Gate and Stewart currently ranked No 1 in the world in this two-rider event, there are hopes for more medals for New Zealand at the St Quentin en Yvelines Veldrome.

Hamish Kerr won the world title in March. Photo: Simon Stacpoole / www.photosport.nz

Hamish Kerr, men's high jump final, from 5.10am Sunday

Kerr's career highlight was in March in Glasgow, when he soared to 2.36 at the world indoor championships, claiming the gold medal and setting a national record.

His progress to the final looked shaky at the Stade de France on Wednesday night, however, when it took three goes to clear 2.20m.

"I've faced a few of those jumps in my life and not all of them have pulled off so I had to dig pretty deep for that one."

Eventually, he was one of just five athletes to clear 2.27m and book his spot in Sunday morning's final.

Eva Morris and Nina Brown are competing in the artistic swimming. Photo: AFP

Eva Morris and Nina Brown, artistic swimming free routine, 5.30am Sunday

Morris and Brown are the first artistic swimmers to represent New Zealand since sisters Lisa and Nina Daniels at Beijing 2008.

They are currently sitting in 17th place on the table after their technical routine on Saturday.

They qualified at the Fukuoka World Aquatics Championships in 2023.

David Liti is competing in the +102kg category. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

David Liti, weightlifting +102kg final, 6.30am Sunday

Weightlifter David Liti will be chasing a personal best when he takes to the South Paris Arena to represent New Zealand for a second time at the Olympics.

Liti is coached by Tina Ball and has a personal best of a 182kg snatch and 232kg clean and jerk, for a 414kg total.

He told RNZ the pastry selection at the Olympic village was "10 out of 10" and he might allow himself to splurge after the final.