Bay of Plenty athletes strike gold at Paris 2024 Olympics

The 2024 Summer Olympics had us glued to our screens and on the edge of our seats earlier this month, as our New Zealand athletes took to the streets, waterways and stadiums of Paris to test themselves on the grandest stage.

Among them were some of the Bay of Plenty’s finest. Whakatāne’s Hayden Wilde claimed an epic triathlon silver, the Mount Maunganui-based Black Ferns Sevens won Aotearoa's first gold medal of the games while Ohope’s Dame Lisa Carrington topped them all with a sensational three gold medals, taking her total tally to an unmatched and seemingly untouchable eight.

But while she may be the GOAT in the boat, Carrington’s life in sport is not an all-consuming hunger for accolades and adulation. Instead, she is a proponent of Sport New Zealand’s Balance is Better philosophy.

Balance is Better is an evidence-based philosophy to support quality sport experiences for all young people, regardless of ability, needs and motivations. It is about young people staying involved in sport for life and realising their potential at the right time.

The Balance is Better philosophy has been developed by the New Zealand sport system (e.g. sport organisations, leaders and administrators, schools, clubs, coaches, parents and volunteers) to support the culture change needed to provide quality sport opportunities for tamariki (5-11) and rangatahi (12-18).

As a young surf lifesaver, Carrington discovered the joy of sport—riding waves, ocean breezes, and forming lasting friendships.

“It wasn’t really about winning, it was just about doing your best and enjoying it,” she told Sport NZ recently.

“I stayed in surf lifesaving because it was fun. I loved being in the ocean, catching waves, and my friends, the amazing people I got to meet and hang around with.”

Carrington was also a keen netball player in her youth and her experience in the game reinforced the value of relationships over rankings. While not the star player, the connections she forged with teammates enriched her sporting life. Her message to young athletes echoes this sentiment:

“It’s okay to not be good at something, and it’s okay to be really good at something,”

From Carrington to a Bay of Plenty athlete at the other end of their Olympic journey. Papamoa’s Sam Tanner was featuring at his second Olympics at just 23-years-old. Unfortunately, his involvement was hampered by an injury in the lead-up, but he still thrived on the experience – as well as the now infamously delicious chocolate muffins in the Olympic village.

The 1500m prospect also embodies a philosophy that extends beyond the track. Regularly out on the water surfing his local waves on Papamoa’s eponymous beach, Sam is also a keen skateboarder and bike rider – as well as embracing passions outside of sport, namely music and the bass guitar.

A Sport NZ Balance is Better Champion, Sam has the opportunity to role-model the benefits of not being consumed by one sporting endeavour.

“My goal as a Balance is Better Champion is to inspire people to stay in sport longer and live a more balanced lifestyle that is going to benefit them in ways which they didn’t think possible,” he says.

“Balance is Better excites me because it is encouraging people to do just this – get out there and reap the rewards from sport at all levels.

“Try as many different sports as possible because you will not even realise how many ways you will benefit – social, physical, and emotional, just to name a few.”

Lisa and Sam remind us that balance enriches our sporting experiences. Whether riding waves or breaking records, they emphasize the value of joy, friendships, and lifelong skills. As we cheer for their victories, let’s also celebrate their commitment to balance—a lesson for all aspiring athletes.

To learn more about the Balance is Better philosophy visit the Sport NZ website.