Новая Зеландия / New Zealand

New Zealand's gold medal wins in Beijing reflected their most successful Olympic sports.

Twins Caroline and Georgina EVERS-SWINDELL won gold for New Zealand in women's double sculls at the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Valerie ADAMS (former known as VILI) won the women's shot and windsurfer Tom ASHLEY also won gold.

New Zealand's other great successes have come in equestrian. New Zealand first appeared at the Olympic Games in London in 1908 and Stockholm 1912 as part of a combined team with Australia styled as Australasia.

Their first individual medallist was Harry KERR, who took bronze in the men's 3500m walk in 1908. They were represented as a separate nation in 1920 and have excelled in athletics, rowing and equestrian events.

Boxer Ted MORGAN was their first individual champion when he won welterweight gold in Amsterdam in 1928.

They have a particularly fine tradition in middle distance athletics. Jack LOVELOCK won the men's 1500m at the Berlin 1936 Games.

Murray HALBERG won 5,000m gold at the Rome 1960 Games. Peter SNELL won the 800m in 1960 and the 800m/1500m double in Tokyo in 1964.

John WALKER won gold in Montreal in 1976 over 1500m. New Zealand's strong rowing tradition was started in 1920 when Darcy HADFIELD claimed their first medal, a single sculls bronze in 1920.

Simon DICKIE won two gold medals: in Mexico City in 1968 with the men's coxed four, and with the eight in Munich in 1972. He grabbed another bronze with the eight in 1976.

Mark TODD won the individual three-day event title in 1984 and 1988. He competed in five Olympic Games in all and collected a further silver and two bronze medals.

Blyth TAIT continued the tradition with eventing gold in 1996. He also earned a silver and two bronze medals.

Windsurfer Barbara KENDALL is the only New Zealand woman to compete at five Olympic Games, from 1992 to 2008.

She won gold in her first Games and followed up with a silver and a bronze. Her brother Bruce was 1988 Olympic champion in windsurfing.