Olympics: Bond Otago’s best hope of Rio gold medal

Hamish Bond.
Hamish Bond.
There are 100 days until the Rio Olympics burst into life with the opening ceremony at the Maracana Stadium.

The political turmoil, pollution, infrastructure issues and concerns about the Zika virus may even fade into the background while some of Otago's best athletes compete for glory on sport's greatest stage.

Bond is Otago's best hope. Hamish Bond, that is. He is one half of the dynamic duo. Bond and Eric Murray have fashioned a remarkable record in the coxless pair event.

They are unbeaten internationally since 2009 and hold the world-best time of 6min 8.50sec which they set at the 2012 London Olympics.

They are the defending gold medallist and hot favourites to go back to back.

Alistair Bond.
Alistair Bond.
Bond was born in Dunedin and started rowing at Otago Boys High School. While he is rarely sighted in the city these days, he still rows for North End Rowing Club, so we get to claim him.

His younger brother, Alistair Bond, is also seeking Olympic glory. The 26-year-old was part of the lightweight men's coxless four which won gold at world cup events in Switzerland and Italy last year.

The crew is aiming for a place on the podium at Rio and hopefully the top spot. Alistair is aligned with Otago University Rowing Club and, like his brother, lives in Cambridge, where the New Zealand rowing team is based.

Former Outram rider Clarke Johnstone will be looking for a good performance at the Badminton Horse Trials in England next month as he presses for a place in the New Zealand equestrian team.

He missed out on the 2012 London Olympics when his former horse, Orient Express, sustained a leg injury.

Johnstone, who is based in Hamilton, will ride 11-year-old Balmoral Sensation at Badminton. He rode the horse to a convincing win at the Horse of the Year Show in Hastings last month. It was an impressive outing which bodes well for Badminton.

Johnstone grew up in Outram and studied at the University of Otago before moving north the pursue a career in eventing.

The Black Sticks have not announced their final squad for the Olympics but four Southern players are in line for a place.

Striker Hugo Inglis and defenders Blair Tarrant and Kane Russell seem fairly assured of a place, while midfielder Nick Ross could also be winging his way to Rio.

The New Zealand men's team missed out on automatic qualification but was given a lifeline when South Africa opted out.

Inglis, Ross, Tarrant and Russell all honed their considerable skills at Otago Boys' High School and were part of a golden generation of hockey players to emerge from the school.

Triathletes Nicky Samuels and Tony Dodds appear to be fringe selections. Samuels is returning from injury and placed 30th at the recent world series event in Cape Town. She will need a better performance at Yokohama next month.

Dodds has also fighting his way back from injury and placed 33rd in Cape Town. Basketballer Samara Gallaher's Olympic dream might be out of reach. She has been asked to trial and, while she has a very good chance of making the final cut, the Tall Ferns face a daunting qualifying tournament in France.

There are 12 teams at the tournament and only the top five will secure an Olympic berth.

Outside of Hamish Bond, Otago's Paralympians offer the best hope of medals. The sailing team is the only team which has been named but javelin throwers Holly Robinson and Rory McSweeny, long jumper and sprinter Anna Grimaldi, shot putter Jess Hamill and swimmer Hamish McLean are strong prospects.

Grimaldi won a bronze medal in the women's T47 long jump at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Qatar last year.

Hamill won silver in shot put at the same event with a throw of 7.83m.

McSweeny also bagged a silver medal at the meeting while Robinson picked up a bronze. McLean, a year 12 Mount Aspiring College student, has met the New Zealand qualifying standard for three events.

 


Otago's Olympic hopefuls

Rowing
Hamish Bond (selected)
Alistair Bond (selected)

Equestrian
Clarke Johnstone (probable)

Hockey
Hugo Inglis (probable)
Kane Russell (probable)
Blair Tarrant (probable)
Nick Ross (possible)

Triathlon
Nicky Samuels (possible)
Tony Dodds (possible)

Basketball
Samara Gallaher (possible)

Paralympians
Holly Robinson (probable)
Rory McSweeny (probable)
Anna Grimaldi (probable)
Jess Hamill (probable)
Hamish McLean (possible)

 



 

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