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Amid tears, cheers, golden confetti and a lot of singalongs, Team New Zealand made sporting history in Barcelona with a third consecutive America’s Cup victory – the jewel in the crown of an incredible weekend of sporting results for Aotearoa.
Among the Kiwis on the ground in Spain to cheer on skipper Peter Burling and his crew was former prime minister Helen Clark. She tells Woman’s Day, “Barcelona has been abuzz with New Zealanders. There was a Kiwi village close by the sea, where people gathered to watch the races on the big screen. Many also wore Team New Zealand gear. Everyone I spoke to has enjoyed their time witnessing New Zealand making history on the water!”
As Peter, 33, hoisted the famed Auld Mug aloft aboard their boat Taihoro after their victory against Ineos Brittania, the ecstatic, patriotic vibe was unlike anything else, adds Newstalk ZB radio star Hamish Williams, who’s also the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s chairman of the house.
“It felt like a New Zealand takeover,” he says. “The whole atmosphere was one of pure joy, mixed with a sense of deep unity. There were hugs as well as giant smiles in every direction. Everyone felt so proud to be there watching our little country succeed on the world stage. It’s proof that little beats big and our unique Kiwi mindset continues to achieve.”
Reporting from Barcelona, ThreeNews journalist Lisette Reymer also got “that proud Kiwi fever”. She tells us, “It’s just been amazing to see how much of a family Team New Zealand is. How much work goes on in that boat shed that no one ever sees is also incredibly impressive. It’s all so top secret that they can’t really shout it from the rooftops, but there are some seriously clever people – borderline magicians – putting in huge shifts to make that boat go as fast as possible.”
After their win, Team New Zealand posted a tribute to their British opponents, writing, “What a team. What a challenge. Thanks for the battle and then the beers!” In a typically humble move, Peter simply said, “Job done! Proud of the team. Thanks to all for your incredible support!”
If our victory on the water wasn’t enough, our White Ferns capped off an amazing – and unexpected – campaign in Dubai. They won New Zealand’s first-ever T20 Cricket World Cup in impressive fashion!
Emotions in the team were running high after their final triumph against South Africa. Legend Suzie Bates remarked that this win “meant everything to us”. She says, “When you play team sport, you want to be a world champion. We’ve fought our way back to the top.”
Suzie, 37, paid tribute to departing skipper Sophie Devine, 35, saying she had led the team magnificently.
“We’ll probably have a cuddle for even longer later because there’s been some dark times that only people in the shed understand.”
Named Player of the Tournament, Amelia Kerr, 24, also cheekily thanked the “grandmothers” of the team – Suzie and Sophie – for their inspiration and guidance throughout the competition.
Along with a shiny new trophy to add to New Zealand Cricket’s collection, the White Ferns also have a wonderfully rewarding payday in the near future, with each player taking home $256,000 for their toil.
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