If winning gold in the kayak-cross at his debut Olympics was not enough, Central Otago paddler Finn Butcher proudly led New Zealand as the flag bearer, alongside Dame Lisa Carrington, at the closing ceremony in Paris yesterday.
It came hours after Ellesse Andrews, who grew up in Wanaka, won New Zealand’s 10th gold in the women’s cycle sprint to cap this country’s most successful Olympics.
"To be an Olympic champion and now carry the flag for New Zealand is beyond what I could have ever imagined", Butcher said.
"I’m so proud to lead our amazing New Zealand Olympic team out into the closing ceremony and celebrate not only the Games, but the years of work from everyone to get here and perform.
"I’m so proud to be a Kiwi."
Back home in Central Otago, Butcher’s grandmother, Val, said the family felt her grandson’s "fairytale is still happening".
"It’s amazing. I’m thrilled to bits for him", she said.
"I really can’t say anything else because he’s just done so well and to be a flag bearer with Lisa Carrington is amazing."
It has been a remarkable Olympics for the New Zealand team, winning a record 10 golds — and 20 medals in total — surpassing the previous best of eight in Los Angeles, 1984.
Andrews has been one of the stories of the Games, cycling to immortality with two golds (sprint and keirin) and a silver (team pursuit).
She never expected to walk away with three medals, especially not gold in the sprint, her "bonus" event.
"It’s very overwhelming, but I’m very proud to have walked away with such results", Andrews said.
Shortly after, team-mate Ally Wollaston came from behind to claim bronze in the women’s omnium, the final event in Paris.
They followed the trend of Kiwi women dominating as female athletes were involved in 15 podium finishes, winning eight of New Zealand’s gold medals.
New Zealand finished 11th on the medal table, between Germany and Canada.
