New Zealand competed at the 1924 Summer Olympics in
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
, France. The team consisted of four competitors: an athlete ( Arthur Porritt), a boxer (
Charlie Purdy
Charles Francis Purdy (24 November 1905 – 25 January 1982) was a New Zealand boxer who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.
In 1924 he was eliminated in the first round of the lightweight class after losing his fight to Frenchman Jean Tho ...
), and two swimmers (
Clarrie Heard
Ernest Clarence Trevail "Clarrie" Heard (8 June 1906 – 27 May 1990) was a New Zealand swimmer, who competed in the 200 m breaststroke at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of Franc ...
and
Gwitha Shand
Gwitha Ifwersen Shand (31 July 1904 – 11 December 1962) was a New Zealand swimmer, who competed in two events at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. In the 100m freestyle she was eliminated in the semi-finals.New Zealand Olympic Council decided on the New Zealand representatives at their meeting in
Wellington
Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...
on 11 March 1924 that subject to funding becoming available, fourteen competitors for four disciplines would be put sent to Paris. But in the end, only four competitors were sent.
A New Zealand rowing eight was to be sent, i.e. eight rowers and one cox. The rowers were Clarrie Healey, W. Ryland, H. Sharpe, and W. Coombes (all from
Wanganui
Whanganui (; ), also spelled Wanganui, is a city in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. The city is located on the west coast of the North Island at the mouth of the Whanganui River, New Zealand's longest navigable waterway. Whangan ...
), C. J. Adams, R. G. Croudis, E. T. Hegglun, and W. Pinkham (all from Blenheim), and W. Sergison (
Christchurch
Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River / ...
). The biggest challenge at the time was a lack of funds and ultimately, the necessary money could not be raised and no rowers were sent.
Darcy Hadfield
Darcy Clarence Hadfield (1 December 1889 – 15 September 1964) was a New Zealand rower who won a bronze medal at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. In doing so, he became the first Olympic medallist who represented New Zealand; previous New Z ...
was a dominant
single scull
A single scull (or a scull) is a rowing boat designed for a single person who propels the boat with two oars, one in each hand.
Racing boats (often called "shells") are long, narrow, and broadly semi-circular in cross-section in order to minimi ...
er at the time but he had become professional in 1922 and was thus no longer eligible to compete at the Olympics.
Randolph Rose was the Australasian champion over 3 miles and was one of the Olympic nominees, but he was operated for
appendicitis
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. Symptoms commonly include right lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite. However, approximately 40% of people do not have these typical symptoms. Severe complications of a rup ...
in March 1924 and could not go to Paris. The other athletics competitors, Arthur Porritt, was at the time studying in England as a
Rhodes scholar
The Rhodes Scholarship is an international postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom.
Established in 1902, it is the oldest graduate scholarship in the world. It is considered among the world' ...
at
Magdalen College
Magdalen College (, ) is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. It was founded in 1458 by William of Waynflete. Today, it is the fourth wealthiest college, with a financial endowment of £332.1 million as of 2019 and one of the st ...
in
Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
. In June 1924, Porritt was appointed captain and manager of the team. The secretary for the team in New Zealand was
Philip Rundle
Philip, also Phillip, is a male given name, derived from the Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominent Philips who popularize ...
, who would be
Chef de Mission
In diplomatic usage, head of mission (HOM) or chief of mission (COM) from the French "chef de mission diplomatique" (CMD) is the head of a diplomatic representation, such as an ambassador, high commissioner, nuncio, chargé d'affaires, permanent ...
in
1932
Events January
* January 4 – The British authorities in India arrest and intern Mahatma Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel.
* January 9 – Sakuradamon Incident (1932), Sakuradamon Incident: Korean nationalist Lee Bong-chang fails in his effort ...
Palmerston North
Palmerston North (; mi, Te Papa-i-Oea, known colloquially as Palmy) is a city in the North Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Located in the eastern Manawatu Plains, the city is near the north bank of the ...
, competed for
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
finishing fifth in the
decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in Athletics (sport), athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word "decathlon" was formed, in analogy to the word "pentathlon", from Greek language, Greek δέκα (''déka'', meaning "ten") and ...
.
The New Zealanders did not travel as a team to Paris. Porritt made his way from Oxford to France. Purdy left
Auckland
Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...
on 19 April by the ''Ulimaroa'' for Sydney, where he joined the Australian boxing team. The boxers left Sydney on the ''Ormonde'' on 30 April. Shand left Auckland on the ''
Niagara
Niagara may refer to:
Geography Niagara Falls and nearby places In both the United States and Canada
*Niagara Falls, the famous waterfalls in the Niagara River
*Niagara River, part of the U.S.–Canada border
*Niagara Escarpment, the cliff ov ...
'' on 13 May.
Results and competitors by event
Athletics
A single athlete represented New Zealand in 1924. It was the nation's second appearance in the sport as well as the Games, though New Zealanders had previously competed in 1908 and 1912 in the Australasia combined team. Porritt won the nation's first medal in the sport with a bronze in the 100 metres. The 100 metres competition was held on 6 and 7 July, and the 200 metres competition was held on 8 and 9 July.
''Ranks given are within the heat.''
Boxing
A single boxer represented New Zealand at the 1924 Games. It was the nation's debut in the sport. Purdy lost his only bout on 16 July.
Swimming
In the women's 400 metre freestyle, Shand won her heat on 13 July, and she qualified in the semi-final the following day by coming third. She did not compete in the final on 15 July, though.
In the men's 200 metre breaststroke, Heard came third in his heat on 15 July. As only the first two would automatically advance to the semi-final, and Heard didn't have the fastest third-placed time across the five heats, he was eliminated.
In the women's 100 metre freestyle, Shand came second in her heat on 19 July, and she thus advanced to the semi-final. The following day, she came third in her semi-final, but Great Britain's Vera Tanner came third in the other semi-final with a faster time, hence Shand was eliminated.
''Ranks given are within the heat.''
; Men
; Women
1924
Events
January
* January 12 – Gopinath Saha shoots Ernest Day, whom he has mistaken for Sir Charles Tegart, the police commissioner of Calcutta, and is arrested soon after.
* January 20– 30 – Kuomintang in China hol ...
Summer Olympics
The Summer Olympic Games (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques d'été), also known as the Games of the Olympiad, and often referred to as the Summer Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The inau ...