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Year in Review: Most outstanding Kiwi sportsman of 2024
Sport Nation • December 29th, 2024 8:36 am
With a blockbuster 12 months of sports in the rear-view mirror, what better way to wind up than by reflecting on some of the stellar achievements of one of the most memorable years of Kiwi excellence in recent memory.
Today, the Sport Nation panel cast their vote for the best NZ sportsman of 2024.
Mark Stafford, host of Afternoons with Staffy: Hamish Kerr
Is there a more "normal" bloke in the world that also just happens to be an Olympic gold medalist in one of the marquee events, the high jump.
While NZ has had a sprinkling of representation in the high jump at the Olympic level before, no one has ever medaled. But now, thanks to Hamish we have a gold. And I say we, because that’s who Hamish competes for.
The qualifying, then the final, and ultimately the jump off were incredibly nerve jangling for all of us watching on. And while we will forever remember that final clearance and the celebratory airplane sprint around the infield, it's easy to forget that he was one failure away from crashing out and flying home. A four-year body of work culminating in just about nothing.
But he found something within himself to pause, smile, trust himself, and fly. And fly he did, surviving that round to attempt another height.
Which brings me back to "normal". I use that descriptor with admiration. He has never changed and has stayed level headed while achieving something the rest of us can only dream of.
They say good things happen to good people. Hamish Kerr is that person.
Andrew Gourdie, sports broadcaster & Mornings with Ian Smith regular: James McDonald
2024 has been a golden year for James McDonald, whose incredible achievements have astute judges already prepared to declare him as the greatest jockey of all time.
McDonald was officially the world's best jockey in 2024, having also claimed the title in 2022. It was a year which saw him reach the career milestone of 100 Group 1 victories at just 32 years old. To put that into context, fellow greats Damien Oliver and Hugh Bowman reached the century at 41.
J-Mac cracked the hundred in fitting fashion by winning a third consecutive Cox Plate aboard three different horses - this one, the best of all. He piloted Via Sistina to a sensational victory - obliterating the Cox Plate track record set by the mighty Winx.
He also partnered Hong Kong galloper Romantic Warrior to a third Hong Kong Cup, celebrating in a manner fitting of his rockstar status that has made him a global icon of thoroughbred racing.
McDonald sits on the best horses in the world for a reason. He is the best.
But his job is more than that of just any driver. The horsepower underneath any jockey has a mind of its own.
McDonald's tactical nous, pinpoint timing, elite horsemanship, supreme fitness and unwavering confidence is what sets him apart.
We are witnessing the greatest to ever do it, and his achievements should no longer be ignored.
Stephen Foote, digital producer: Hamish Kerr
Hamish Kerr's heroics in Paris simply cannot be overlooked.
Not only did the Dunedinite win one of the red-letter events of the Olympics, he did so in the most dramatic fashion possible - prevailing in a jump-off against American Shelby McEwen to clinch gold.
Not all Olympic gold medals are created equally, and Kerr's - New Zealand's first in athletics since 2012 - was one that will long occupy a special place in Kiwi sporting lore.
Logan Swinkels, digital executive producer: Will O’Rourke
I have covered a lot of cricket, in particular Test cricket for SENZ/Sport Nation over the past twelve months and the one thing that truly stands out to me is the play of Will O’Rourke.
His memorable Test debut against South Africa’s third XI saw the Canterbury pace bowler take nine wickets across two innings at Seddon Park for 93 runs combined, helping the Blackcaps claim their first Test series victory over the Proteas.
He backed that up with a strong showing in the recent three-match series against England, reaching speeds of 150km/h and showing the likes of World No. 1 & No. 2 Test batters Joe Root and Harry Brook don’t phase the 23-year-old.
Now all I want for Christmas is a healthy Blackcaps bowling attack - and more Test cricket.
Will O'Rourke gets the better of the World No. 1 Test batter | Sport Nation
