Georgia-Rose Brown says after years of representing Australia, it's time to tap into her Kiwi heritage. Photo: Getty Images / Quinn Rooney
After a career representing Australia, Georgia-Rose Brown says she got "goosebumps" when she linked up with her fellow Kiwis in Paris for the first time.
Brown, who was born in Australia to a New Zealand mum and Aussie dad, switched her allegiance to Aotearoa six months ago.
"I've had the opportunity to represent my dad's side, so now I'd like to represent my mum's side too.
"I've wanted to compete at the Olympics since I made my first international team in 2010, so this means the world to me. Everything I've worked for throughout my career has paid off."
When she arrived in the Games village in Paris, the artistic gymnast was overcome.
"It's been absolutely incredible. When I came in and got the formal welcome to the team it was surreal. I had goosebumps," she says on the New Zealand Olympic team website.
Photo: Getty Images / Corbis / Tim Clayton
Background
Born: 22 January 1995 in Queensland
Lives in Melbourne
Has a Kiwi mum and an Australian dad
Represented Australia for 14 years
Has a Bachelor of Biomedical Science degree, studying for a Masters of Physiotherapy
Switched to represent NZ in January 2024
Hobby: ocean swimming
Event: artistic gymnastics
Achievements
- Won team bronze at 2010 Pacific Rim champs
- Won team silver at 2014 Commonwealth Games
- Won individual silver on balance beam and bronze in teams' event at 2018 Commonwealth Games - all four medals for Australia
- Has top ten finishes, both in individual and teams' events, at a variety of international events
While Brown has had experience of Commonwealth Games athletes villages, she says the Olympics one is "another level".
"The village looks amazing, I'm loving exploring and looking around."
The 29-year-old earned her Paris spot by topping the rankings at the 2024 apparatus World Cup series on the uneven bars.
The uneven bars are Georgia-Rose Brown's specialist event. Photo: Getty Images / Corbis / Tim Clayton
While the uneven bars are her main event, she will compete in the all-around competition (vault, uneven bars, beam, and floor) at the Olympics. That's one of the sport's superstars, Simone Biles's events also.
"I had a pre-Games camp in Belgium where I trained for 10 days. I was lucky to have access to their national centre which had amazing equipment very similar to what we'll compete on in the Olympics so it's been going really well," Brown said.
While she has not competed in an all-around event for some time, she is eager to do well on every discipline.
"I've been building up well and I'm really excited to get going."
The women's artistic gymnastics competition takes place on 27-28 July in Paris, with the finals from 29 July-1 August.