Their achievements included national team selections, World and Oceania Championships, international tournaments and podium finishes. Standout results included gold medals in athletics, rowing and archery, along with World Championship medals and selection for major international events including the Youth Olympics.
We are incredibly proud of every student selected to represent New Zealand or be part of a national representative programme. Their dedication, resilience and commitment to their sport are an outstanding achievement.
Athletics
Hannah McManus and Sina-Maria Su’a were selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Athletics Team and toured Australia in the April school holidays. The team consisted of 23 students from various schools across the country, who competed at the Australian Athletics Junior Track and Field Championships in Brisbane.
Hannah was also selected to represent New Zealand at the 2026 Oceania Athletics Championship in Darwin in May. She competed in the U18 800m, 1500m, and Javelin, placing 5th in both the 800m and 1500m, and 7th in the Javelin. The championships marked her fourth selection to represent New Zealand this track season (Oceania Cup, NZSS Classics Tour, NZSS Australian Tour, Oceania Athletics Championship).
Sina-Maria had a very successful few days at the Australian Athletics Junior Track and Field Championships, securing four gold medals across two different age groups:
- Gold in the U16 Discus
- Gold in the U16 Shotput
- Gold in the U18 Discus and first in the U18 Shotput.
As well as winning all these events, Sina also got a personal best in every event and now holds the new U16 Shot Put Australian record. Sina-Maria is also an U18 New Zealand champion in shotput and discus.
Ice Hockey
MeiMei Keith was selected for the New Zealand U18 Ice Hockey team.
MeiMei competed at the U18 Women’s Ice Hockey World Championship in Istanbul, Türkiye. This is an outstanding achievement for MeiMei, who at just 14 years old, competed against athletes several years older on the international stage.
Triathlon
Maggie Croft was selected to represent New Zealand at the 2026 World Triathlon Multisport Championships in Abu Dhabi, competing in Aquathlon. The World Championships will take place in Abu Dhabi from 13–22 November 2026.
She secured her qualification at the Kinloch Triathlon Festival, which served as the National Age Group Championships and the official qualifier for the World Championships.
Chloe Ulmer qualified to represent New Zealand at the Multisport World Championships in Abu Dhabi from 13–22 November 2026. Chloe also secured her place on the team Kinloch Triathlon Festival.
Indie Williams raced in the Oceania Cup this year. This was her first ever Conti Cup. Racing against open elite women, Indie came 16th overall and 4th in the Junior age group.
The following weekend was the Oceania Super Sprint Championships, featuring two full days of racing across heats, semi-finals, and the B final in the Open Elite Women’s category. It was an intense and rewarding experience, and Indie came away with plenty of positive learnings to round out the domestic season.
Indie was also selected and competed in the 2026 World Junior Triathlon Championships in Pontevedra from 24-28 September where Indie was the first kiwi home and finished in 32nd place. Indie’s relay team finished an incredible 12th place. What makes this more impressive is that Indie has two more years in this age category.
Ski Racing
Anna Yuan has been selected for the New Zealand Ski Racing National Youth Squad in the under 16 category. This marks her third consecutive year representing New Zealand at the Whistler Cup in Canada, one of the largest FIS Children’s Alpine Ski Racing competitions in North America, attracting top young athletes from around the world.
This opportunity is a significant honour for Anna and an important milestone in her development as an alpine ski racer and Dio student representing New Zealand internationally.
Football
Sofia Kong was selected for the U19 New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Football team who travelled to Thailand to compete in April.
Ava Carey and Isla Dwight were selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Football U16 representative team.
Water Polo
- NZ U15 team: Catherine Li, Charlotte Sanders, Demi Coe, Lucy Hantz, and Addison Aves (Non-travelling reserve). These students were selected to represent the New Zealand Water Polo teams for the Australian State Championships during the September holidays.
- NZ U16 team: Claudia Sundstrum, Indiana Coe and Juliette Laury. These students were selected for the New Zealand U16 team to compete in the World Aquatics U16 World Championships in July. The team coached by Dio’s Gabby Oloapu, finished an incredible 8th place.
- NZ U17 team: Charlotte Manks, Chloe Sandor, Koko Wong, Olivia Willis, and Maritsa Radich (Non-travelling reserve). These students were selected to represent the New Zealand Water Polo teams for the Australian State Championships during the September holidays.
- NZ U18 team: Annabelle Imlah, Grainne Aitken, Jemma McKinley, Olivia Patterson, Ruby Bech, Sophie Walter. These students were selected for the U18 New Zealand Water Polo team. Koko Wong was selected as a non- travelling reserve. In August the team travelled to compete in the World Aquatics U18 World Championships where they finished in 12th place.
Koko Wong was also selected to travel with the New Zealand U23 Women’s team to Australia in September, where they won the Oceania Cup.
Māori Football
Zara Harris was selected and recently represented the Māori Football Women’s National Team, Mauri, for the international fixture against the Cook Islands in Auckland. Representing Mauri is a significant honour.
With a growing pool of exceptional Māori talent to select from across Aotearoa and abroad, Zara’s selection carries the responsibility of upholding the kaupapa, values, and identity while inspiring future generations of Māori footballers.
Underwater Hockey
Molly Hopwood-Craig was selected for the New Zealand Women’s U19 Underwater Hockey team to compete at the World Championships. Molly and her teammates achieved an outstanding result, finishing as World Championship runners-up and bringing home the silver medal.
Cross Country
Maddie Worrall was selected for the New Zealand Cross Country Team to compete at the Australia Cross Country Championships. Maddie had an exceptional run and finished in 2nd place.
Fencing
Bowie Wang was selected for the Youth Olympics to represent New Zealand in Fencing in Dakar in early November this year.
Bowie’s other achievements this year include:
- being selected for the New Zealand Junior National Championships, where she competed and placed 1st in the Women’s Foil Category.
- being selected for the New Zealand Team at Asian Cadet and Junior 2026 Championships, in the Women’s Cadet Foil Category. Bowie came in the top 16 for the Asian Cadet Championships and the New Zealand team finished 10th. Bowie also came 49th in the Asian Junior Championships and the NZ team finished 13th.
- being selected for the New Zealand Team for the Cadet and Junior World Championships 2026 in the Junior Women’s Foil Category. Unfortunately, due to the war, she couldn’t compete but was honoured to be selected.
Chloe Kwon and Cici Wang were selected to represent New Zealand at the Australian U17/15 Nationals in Fencing in the category of Epee. In the Women’s Cadet category Cici placed 20th and Chloe placed 32nd. In the Women’s U15 Cici placed 12th and Chloe placed 29th.
Orienteering
Cerys Findlow was selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Orienteering team in the Senior Category (U19), and travelled to Australia in September.
Flora Stevens Oskam was named as a non-travelling reserve in the Junior category (U15). She and Charlotte Dalziel were named in the New Zealand Secondary School Development team and invited to travel to Australia to compete alongside the official team.
BMX
Savannah Hogg was selected to represent New Zealand at the BMX UCI World Championships. Competing against more than 2000 riders from 41 countries, Savannah finished an impressive 26th in the Girls’ 12 Years age group.
Ultimate Disc
Petra Craddock represented New Zealand in the 2026 World Junior Ultimate Disc Championships. The tournament featured 47 national teams across U20 Open, Women’s, and Mixed divisions. Petra and her team (team Kāhu) placed 9th overall and also took home the Spirit of the Game Award, awarded to the team who showcased exceptional sportsmanship and team culture.
Figure Skating
Jasmine Ngan competed at the 2026 Figure Skating Clucas Cup Selection Competition in Christchurch.
Following an outstanding performance, Jasmine earned selection to the New Zealand International B Team in the Novice Girls division.
Jasmine represented New Zealand at the Swan Trophy in Perth in September.
Christine Aixinjueluo was selected to represent New Zealand at the Oceania International Figure Skating Competition in Melbourne from 26-28 May. This is Christine’s third time representing New Zealand on the national team. This is considered a feeder event to the Winter Olympics and was an exciting opportunity for Christine to get International recognition.
Christine did very well at the competition placing 5th in the Short Program and 4th in the Free Skate division.
Chess
Rebecca Zhao was selected to represent New Zealand at the 2026 FIDES World Youth Cup in chess.
Rowing
Amelia Self represented New Zealand at the 2026 International Rowing Challenge in Michigan USA, competing against teams from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Australia. She raced in three events, finishing 4th in the Mens Four, winning a Gold medal in the Womens Four, and a Silver medal in the Mixed Eight. Overall, the New Zealand team placed third.
Swimming
Anna Li and Catherine Li have recently been selected into the Swimming New Zealand Age Group Youth Programme.
Water Ski Racing
Ruby Presnall was selected to represent New Zealand to compete in the US Water Ski Racing National’s in Arizona, and will be competing in the Junior Girls, Women’s Open and Women’s F2 classes. Ruby brought home the gold medal.
Gymnastics
Louella Chabal-T represented New Zealand at the Tamara Cup in Japan for Rhythmic Gymnastics. Louella finished 2nd in Ball and 5th overall.
Millie King represented New Zealand at the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Queensland State Championships in Level 9. Millie finished 3rd All Around, 4th on vault and 6th on Bars.
Golf
Teresa Wang was selected into the NZ Golf 2026/27 Development Squad.
Archery
Ashley Zu was selected to represent New Zealand at the 2026 World Archery Oceania Championships, taking away:
- U18 Women’s Barebow 720 – Gold
- U21 Mixed Barebow Matchplay – Gold
Sailing
Flora Stevens Oskam was selected for the Yachting New Zealand Starling Girls U19 Squad.
Cycling
After successfully adding track to her road cycling CV, Phoebe Xiao was selected into the NZ U15 track team to compete at the upcoming AP Junior Track (Cycling) Tournament being held in Hong Kong in December this year.
