The Gisborne judoka Darcina Manuel has been named in the New Zealand Olympic team and will compete in the women's 57kg judo division at the Rio Olympics.
The 23-year-old won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow two years ago.
Darcina Manuel competing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Photo: Photosport
"I am thrilled to be selected into the team today and cannot wait to put everything together to make it work and represent New Zealand in Rio," said Manuel.
"For 16 years I have been working towards this goal and it means the world to me," she said.
Balancing work commitments with a full training schedule, she recently won a gold medal at the Oceania Judo Champs in Canberra.