New Zealand competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. This was the nation's twenty-second appearance at the Olympics since its debut in 1908 as part of Australasia. The New Zealand Olympic Committee sent a total of 148 athletes, 81 men, and 67 women to the Games to compete in 18 sports, surpassing a single athlete short of the record from Sydney four years earlier. Basketball and field hockey were the only team-based sports in which New Zealand had its representation at these Olympic Games. There was only a single competitor in archery, boxing, and fencing.
Sport in New Zealand largely reflects the nation's colonial heritage, with some of the most popular sports being rugby union, rugby league, cricket, association football, basketball, horse racing and netball, which are primarily played in Commonwealth countries. New Zealand has enjoyed success in many sports, notably rugby union, rugby league, cricket, America's Cup sailing, world championship and Olympics events, and motorsport.
New Zealand competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. The New Zealand Olympic Committee was represented by 134 athletes and 70 officials. 134 competitors, 92 men and 42 women, took part in 87 events in 17 sports. Ralph Roberts was the team's Chef de Mission.
Phillip Ross Burrows is a field hockey player from New Zealand, who earned his first cap for the national team, nicknamed The Black Sticks, in January 2000. The striker is New Zealand's top field goal scorer and was named 2003 New Zealand Player of the Year.
Simon James Towns is a field hockey player from New Zealand, who earned his first cap for the national team, nicknamed The Black Sticks, in 1992 against Kenya. In the 2007 New Year Honours he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to hockey.
Kyle Marshall Pontifex is a New Zealand professional field hockey player. He plays as a goalkeeper. He earned his first cap for the New Zealand national team, nicknamed The Black Sticks, in 2001 against Malaysia.
James Henry Nation is a field hockey player from New Zealand who earned his first cap for the national team, nicknamed The Black Sticks, in 2001 against Malaysia. The midfielder provides support at centre and left half and is also an attacking penalty corner option. He made his test debut in 2001, but did not make the team to the Commonwealth Games a year later.
Paul Douglas Ackerley was a field hockey player, maths teacher and public servant from New Zealand.
Jennifer Susan Duck is a former field hockey player from New Zealand, who finished in sixth position with the women's national team, nicknamed Black Sticks, at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Two years earlier she was a member of the side that captured the bronze medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The New Zealand women's national field hockey team is also known as the Black Sticks Women. The team's best performances include a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, a third placing at the 2011 Champions Trophy, and fourth placings at the 1986 World Cup, 2012 Summer Olympics and 2016 Summer Olympics. As of December 2017, the team ranks fourth on the International Hockey Federation (FIH) world rankings.
Brian Andrew Fowler is a retired cyclist who represented New Zealand at four consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1984. In 1983, he rode Paris–Nice finishing 43rd.
Hayden Roulston is a former New Zealand professional racing cyclist. He won the silver medal in the men's 4000 m individual pursuit and a bronze medal in the men's 4000 m team pursuit at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He won the New Zealand road cycling championships on four occasions, the Tour of Southland on three occasions and came tenth in the 2010 edition of Paris - Roubaix.
Westley Gough is a New Zealand professional racing cyclist. In 2011 he won the New Zealand National Road Championships ITT.
New Zealand sent a team of 200 competitors and 102 officials to the 2002 Commonwealth Games, which were held at Manchester, England. The flagbearer at the opening ceremony was Sarah Ulmer, and at the closing ceremony was Nigel Avery.
New Zealand sent a team of 217 competitors and 80 officials to the 1998 Commonwealth Games, which were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The flagbearer at the opening ceremony was Graeme Miller, and at the closing ceremony Darren Liddel.
Samantha Charlton is a New Zealand field hockey player. She has competed for the New Zealand women's national field hockey team, including for the team at the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics.
Blair Hilton is a New Zealand field hockey player. At the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2016 Summer Olympics, he competed for the national team in the men's tournament. He also competed for New Zealand at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Gillies Gene Kaka is a New Zealand rugby union player for the Hino Red Dolphins.
Scott Curry is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays for the New Zealand national rugby sevens team. He made his debut at the 2010 Dubai Sevens. He made his debut appearance at the Olympics representing New Zealand at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Richard Dale Peterson was a New Zealand fencer and lawyer. He represented his country at the 1966 and 1970 British Commonwealth Games, and won 12 New Zealand national fencing titles across three disciplines. A commercial lawyer in Wellington, Peterson and his wife Hilary established clubs to support sufferers of dementia.
