Athletes Commission

The most outstanding New Zealand male race walker of his generation boasts a proud international career spanning more than a decade.

A New Zealand record-holder for the 20km (1:21:12) and 50km (3:46:29) race walks, he most notably excelled in the latter event.

A six-time World Championship representative and three-time Olympian, Quentin’s highlights include a 12th place finish in the 50km race walk at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, and a tenth place in the 50km race walk at the 2015 World Championships.

In 2018 he also finished fifth in the 20km race walk at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Eliza gained international recognition with a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, New Zealand’s first Olympic medal in pole vault. She also set a national record of 4.82 meters in 2016, before raising the bar further to 4.94 in 2018, placing her 6th on the global all time list.

Despite facing setbacks due to injuries, Eliza has remained determined and continued competing at the highest level, earning further medals at Commonwealth Games and World Indoor Championships. Her achievements have made her a role model for young athletes and helped raise the profile of New Zealand athletics on the world stage.

One of the all-time greats of New Zealand sport, Dame Valerie enjoyed an unparalleled career of shot put success spanning more than 20 years.

A World U18 and U20 shot put gold medallist, the Auckland-based thrower later went on to enjoy a dazzling career as a senior athlete. Dame Valerie won two gold, one silver and one bronze medal across five Olympic Games, and also claimed eight world titles (four indoor and four outdoor).

Across five Commonwealth Games she also won three gold and two silver medals. From 2006 to 2014 she was unbeaten across 107 competitions, and in 2014 was named Female World Athlete of the Year. Dame Valerie holds the Oceania shot put record with 21.24m.

One of New Zealand’s premier athletes, Anna Grimaldi has enjoyed a stellar international career in para-athletics, specialising in the long jump.
A three-time Paralympic Games champion, Anna first captured global attention by winning gold in the T47 long jump at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, before going back to back at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Remarkably, Anna bounced back from long jump disappointment in the 2024 Paralympics to claim an unlikely 200m gold.
She also boasts multiple World Para Athletics Championships medals and has set Oceania records in her classification. Resilient through injury setbacks, Anna’s passion and determination continue to inspire both able-bodied and para-athletes across New Zealand.

A respected figure in New Zealand distance running, Malcolm Hicks has combined national success with notable international achievements in the marathon.
Malcolm represented New Zealand at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2019 World Athletics Championships. He also boasts remarkable depth, including running a sub-four minute mile.
With a marathon best of 2:10:04, Malcolm’s commitment to excellence and his balanced approach to life and sport have made him a mentor to many emerging Kiwi distance runners.

A rising star of New Zealand para-athletics, Danielle Aitchison has quickly established herself on the world stage with outstanding performances in sprint events.
Competing in the T36 classification, Danielle won silver in the 200m and bronze in the 100m at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, before adding two more silver medals at the Paris Paralympics four years later. She has also secured multiple medals at the World Para Athletics Championships, showcasing her speed and competitive spirit.
Known for her positive attitude and relentless drive, Danielle is a role model for young athletes with disabilities and is helping to elevate para-sport’s profile within New Zealand and beyond.

A leading middle-distance athlete for New Zealand, James Preston has shown remarkable growth and consistency, particularly in the 800m event.
James broke Peter Snell’s long-standing national 800m record with a brilliant 1:44.04 run, and has gone on to represent New Zealand at World Championships and the Olympic Games.
His tactical racing, combined with his work ethic and commitment to continuous improvement, has made him one of New Zealand’s standout middle-distance runners of the modern era.

One of New Zealand’s most exciting sprint talents, Rosie Elliott has made a significant impact on the national and international athletics scene in recent years.
Rosie captured the national 200m record with a stunning performance and has represented New Zealand at both two World Athletics Championships.
Her versatility across sprint distances, and rapid rise to prominence mark her as a key figure in the future of New Zealand sprinting.