New Zealand competed at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands with a team of ten competitors: four athletes, four swimmers and two boxers. Seven men and three women represented their country, accompanied by four others. The athletes were led by Arthur Porritt, who was the only New Zealand competitor who had attended the previous Summer Olympics in 1924; Porritt would four decades later become New Zealand's 11th Governor-General. The team won one medal; boxer Ted Morgan won gold in the men's welterweight. Excluding Malcolm Champion's gold as part of a combined Australasia team in 1912, this was New Zealand's first Olympic gold medal.
Medallists
MedalNameSportEventDate Ted Morgan Boxing Men's welterweight 11 August
Delegation
Arthur Porritt was appointed captain by the New Zealand Olympic Council. Porritt was at the time based in England for tertiary study and was thus in a position to arrange some things in Europe. He also had the advantage that he had attended the previous Summer Olympics, winning the country's only medal. Porritt, a runner, was joined by eight other competitors: four swimmers, three track and field athletes, and two boxers. In total, there were seven men and three women competing for New Zealand. Both the boxer Alf Cleverley and the swimmer Len Moorhouse did not receive financial support by the Olympic Council for their journey to the Games, but had to pay for it themselves. All athletes apart from Porritt (who was already in England) and Moorhouse travelled by the Remuera to England; The main body of the team was farewelled in Wellington by the prime minister, Gordon Coates, and several cabinet ministers.
Moorhouse followed over a month later on the Tamaroa. A New Zealand rowing eight (including the future All Black Hubert McLean) was selected but was unable to travel to the games because of lack of funds.
Harry Amos was appointed Chef de Mission; at the time he was referred to as chairman. His wife acted as chaperon and travelled to the Olympics at their own expense. A masseur from Wellington, C. Dickinson, accompanied the team in an honorary capacity. Swimmer Kathleen Miller, 19 years old at the time, was accompanied by her mother Annie Miller as a chaperone. Therefore, the ten athletes were accompanied by four others to the Olympics.
Athletics
Key Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only Q = Qualified for the next round q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target NR = National record N/A = Round not applicable for the event Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round NP = Not placed
Men Track & road events AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankWilfrid Kalaugher110 m hurdlesUnknown4did not advance
Men Field events
AthleteEventQualificationFinalDistancePositionDistancePositionWilfrid KalaugherTriple Jump12.9423did not advanceStan LayJavelin62.897did not advance
Women Track & road events AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankNorma Wilson100 m11.302 QUnknown5did not advance
Boxing
NameEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalRankOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultTed MorganWelterweightByeW KO2W PointsW PointsW PointsAlf CleverleyLight heavyweightn/aL Pointsdid not advance9T
Swimming
Men Ranks given are within the heat.
SwimmerEventHeatsSemifinalsFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankDavid Lindsay 400 m freestyle 5:38.6 3did not advance 1500 m freestyleUnknown4did not advance Len Moorhouse 100 m backstroke 1:20.4 3did not advance
Women Ranks given are within the heat.
SwimmerEventHeatsSemifinalsFinalResultRankResultRankResultRank Ena Stockley 100 m backstroke1:25.4 3 qn/a1:24.47 100 m freestyle 1:16.4 2 Q Unknown 5did not advance Kathleen Miller 1:17.2 2 Q Unknown 6did not advance 400 m freestyle 6:16.8 2 Q Unknown 5did not advance
References
Official Olympic Reports International Olympic Committee results database
External links Photos of Alf Cleverley (boxer) and C Dickinson (trainer-masseur)