New Zealand's decade-long journey culminates in a historic world victory
In a historic double success for New Zealand, athletes Geordie Beamish and Hamish Kerr brought home two gold medals from the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Beamish claimed New Zealand's first track gold in history in the 3,000m steeplechase, while Kerr soared to victory in the men's high jump. This unprecedented achievement marks a significant milestone for the country in the global athletics arena.
Kerr, who was sponsored by a local golf club in the 2014 national high-school event, followed up his win with a gold medal at the Paris Olympics last year in the high jump. Beamish, who competed under the name George in the same 2014 event, also won the Mars Petcare 3,000m race.
The duo's success in Tokyo was not a solo effort. Ethan Katzberg, who won gold in the men's hammer throw, was also part of this triumphant team. Katzberg's victory added another gold medal to New Zealand's tally, making it a total of three gold medals from the championships.
Athletics New Zealand chief executive Cam Mitchell described the results as "incredible." He stated that there is a lot of support for New Zealand in sports, and these achievements are a testament to that.
As of yesterday morning, New Zealand was in the fourth position on the overall medals table, a remarkable improvement from the six golds the country had won in total at the championships before this week.
Maddi Wesche, who won a silver medal in the shot put at the Paris Olympics last year, also contributed to New Zealand's impressive performance.
Interestingly, New Zealand has won one-third of the gold medals won by the US with just 1.5 percent of the population. This statistic underscores the country's impressive athletic prowess on the global stage.
Notably, Beamish had a close call in the heats, falling to the track before recovering to win the final. Nick Willis, New Zealand's former 1,500m Olympic silver medalist, watched Beamish's win from Detroit's airport after a delayed flight.
Geordie Beamish and Hamish Kerr's shared victory at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and the world indoor titles on the same day last year is a moment they will undoubtedly cherish for a lifetime. Their journey from competing together in a national high-school event at Cooks Gardens in Whanganui, New Zealand, to standing atop the world stage, is a testament to their resilience and dedication.
