1. Yvette Williams
Sport: Athletics.
Her story: This is not my Otago bias shining through. Williams (now Corlett) was a pioneer and an incredibly talented athlete. She became the first New Zealand woman to win an Olympic gold medal when she won the long jump in Helsinki in 1952.
She also set a world record two years later, and won Empire Games gold medals in the long jump (1950 and 1954), shot put (1954) and discus (1954). Was named New Zealand sportsman of the year twice and voted athlete of the 1950s.
2. Valerie Adams
Sport: Athletics.
Her story: Still many chapters to go - and it seems likely Queen Val will be No 1 on this list before long. Adams is so good at what she does, it almost gets boring.
The two-time Olympic and four-time world champion is now basically unbeatable. Enough said.
3. Evers-Swindell twins
Sport: Rowing.
Her (their) story: It is impossible and unfair to separate Caroline and Georgina. They joined the ranks of the New Zealand champions with one Olympic gold medal - and launched into the immortal tier when they won a second.
The second gold was particularly impressive as it came following a rocky 18-month period when the twins had been all but written off.
4. Sarah Ulmer
Sport: Cycling.
Her story: New Zealand's first - and, to date, only - gold medallist in an Olympic cycling event. Ulmer was imperious in 2004, breaking the world record in Melbourne and breaking it twice more at the Athens Olympics. Also a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
5. Susan Devoy
Sport: Squash.
Her story: The queen of the court for a long time. Devoy won her first world title in 1985 and added three others. Also won the major British Open eight times. Still considered arguably the greatest women's squash player of all time.
6. Erin Baker
Sport: Multisport.
Her story: The greatest female triathlete the sport has seen. Won world titles over short-course and Ironman distances, as well as a world duathlon title. Joseph Romanos, in New Zealand's Top 100 Sports History-Makers, reported Baker won 104 of the 121 triathlons she entered.
7. Barbara Kendall
Sport: Yachting.
Her story: A fizzy, fiery character whose toughness and skill in boardsailing served her well over a long period. Became New Zealand's second female Olympic gold medallist in Barcelona in 1992, and added a silver and a bronze in later years.
8. Irene van Dyk
Sport: Netball.
Her story: It really is extremely difficult to narrow down the greatest players in New Zealand's No 1 sport for women. A dream team named in 1999 featured the likes of Sandra Edge, Yvonne Willering, Tracey Fear and Joan Harnett. Lesley Nicol and Anna Rowberry would be modern contenders. But I really think van Dyk transcended the sport. She was our dominant player for a decade and is the most-capped international in the history of the sport.
9. Beatrice Faumuina
Sport: Athletics.
Her story: Loses points for fading towards the end of her career but her achievements are still impressive. Was the first New Zealander to win a world athletics title, in the discus, and won back-to-back Commonwealth Games gold medals.
10. Annelise Coberger
Sport: Skiing.
Her story: ''Only'' won a single silver medal at the Olympics. But Coberger must make this list because of the historic implications of her performance. She was the first southern hemisphere athlete to win a Winter Olympic medal when she claimed silver in the slalom in 1992.
Missing the cut: Val Young, Jenny McDonald, Allison Roe, Marise Chamberlain, Eve Rimmer, Neroli Fairhall, Madonna Harris, Alison Shanks, Lorraine Moller, Debbie Hockley, Sandra Edge, Ruia Morrison.
