Sports History NZ

Jesse Mulligan talks to athletes, administrators and journalists about major moments in New Zealand sport.

Hosted by Jesse Mulligan

An image of Peter Snell, arms raised crossing the finish line at the Olympic Games. The words 'Sports History NZ' are superimposed in a striped font.

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Tuariki Delamere

For today's sporting history we're going back to 1974. A fleeting moment - less than 11 seconds - when track & field bumped into gymnastics. A splash of magic happened and a boy from Papakura came inches away from revolutionising the long jump. That boy was Tuariki Delamere. And that magic... The Delamere flip. A short lived - and quickly banned - long jump technique. It involved doing a summersault mid jump.
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The legend that is rugby league's Mark Graham

Mark Graham is widely regarded as the best rugby league player to ever come out of New Zealand, and that's not just us saying it, in 2007 he was named the New Zealand player of the century and was the first Kiwi inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame.
An image of Peter Snell, arms raised crossing the finish line at the Olympic Games. The words 'Sports History NZ' are superimposed in a striped font. RNZ logo is in the top left corner.

How to coach mental toughness with Gilbert Enoka

Gilbert Enoka knows about mental toughness. The coach and author is best known for his time with the All Blacks - he worked with them for 23 years. Now other international teams are calling on his insight on finding the winning edge.
An image of Peter Snell, arms raised crossing the finish line at the Olympic Games. The words 'Sports History NZ' are superimposed in a striped font. RNZ logo is in the top left corner.

Training winners with horse trainer Sheila Laxon

In 2001, Sheila was the first female trainer to win the Melbourne Cup, with a horse named Ethereal. In 2024 she became the first woman to win it twice when Knight's Choice crossed the line first. The success doesn't stop there, in 2025 she was honored at the NZ Thoroughbred Racing Awards.
An image of Peter Snell, arms raised crossing the finish line at the Olympic Games. The words 'Sports History NZ' are superimposed in a striped font. RNZ logo is in the top left corner.

Para Alpine skier Adam Hall is gearing up for the 2026 Winter Olympics

Very few people make it to five Olympic games. Even fewer make it to six. But that's a feat that para-alpine skier Adam Hall is set to achieve in 2026, when he competes at the 2026 Milano Cortina Paralympic Winter games.
An image of Peter Snell, arms raised crossing the finish line at the Olympic Games. The words 'Sports History NZ' are superimposed in a striped font. RNZ logo is in the top left corner.

What's the most controversial call in NZ sport?

Time for NZ Sporting History, and today we're looking at the history of controversial calls in Kiwi sport. To look back at some of the most high-wire moments Jesse is joined by award-winning sports journalist Dylan Cleaver.
An image of Peter Snell, arms raised crossing the finish line at the Olympic Games. The words 'Sports History NZ' are superimposed in a striped font. RNZ logo is in the top left corner.

Lorraine Moller on the wild evolution of women's marathon running

Marathon runner Lorraine Moller took part in the first ever Women's Olympic Marathon at the 1984 LA Olympics, coming fifth. Over her 20-year career she ended up running marathons in four Olympics, winning bronze at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
An image of Peter Snell, arms raised crossing the finish line at the Olympic Games. The words 'Sports History NZ' are superimposed in a striped font. RNZ logo is in the top left corner.

Rhythmic gymnast Angela Walker on her highs and lows

In 1988 Angela Walker became just the second New Zealander to compete in Rhythmic Gymnastics at the Olympics. Despite that being 37 years ago, no one else has repeated that feat since. Angela joins Jesse to discuss the highs, lows, pirouettes, and leaps of her sporting career.
An image of Peter Snell, arms raised crossing the finish line at the Olympic Games. The words 'Sports History NZ' are superimposed in a striped font. RNZ logo is in the top left corner.

All Blacks vs Springboks - The Ultimate Rivalry?

The All Blacks versus Springboks is a rivalry almost as old as the game itself, so on this NZ Sporting History, we wanted to look back on some of the great All Blacks V Springboks moments. Veteran sports journalist and broadcaster Phil Gifford chats to Emile.
An image of Peter Snell, arms raised crossing the finish line at the Olympic Games. The words 'Sports History NZ' are superimposed in a striped font. RNZ logo is in the top left corner.

Emma Gilmour on how racing gets her motor running

Emma Gilmour is a trailblazer in motor-racing. She became the first woman to win a round of the New Zealand Rally Championship when she claimed victory in the 2016 Rally of Canterbury. She then went on to become the first ever woman driver for McLaren Racing in 2022.
An image of Peter Snell, arms raised crossing the finish line at the Olympic Games. The words 'Sports History NZ' are superimposed in a striped font. RNZ logo is in the top left corner.

Grant Elliot on the big moments of his cricketing career

Nicknamed the Hairy Javelin, Grant Elliot began his cricketing career in his native South Africa. But a move to New Zealand would set up him up for an international career that saw him compete in all formats of the game. He looks back on the big moments.
An image of Peter Snell, arms raised crossing the finish line at the Olympic Games. The words 'Sports History NZ' are superimposed in a striped font. RNZ logo is in the top left corner.

Cricketer Amelia Kerr steps up to the microphone

Amelia Kerr plays cricket for Wellington, and internationally for New Zealand. She is the youngest person to score a double century in a One Day International. She was named player of the tournament at the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup after helping New Zealand win the trophy for the first time.
An image of Peter Snell, arms raised crossing the finish line at the Olympic Games. The words 'Sports History NZ' are superimposed in a striped font. RNZ logo is in the top left corner.

Ric Salizzo on Playing the Long Game

When it comes to sport and to broadcasting, there isn't much Ric Salizzo hasn't done. He got his start as a sports journalist before joining the All Blacks as the teams' first media manager. Ric is behind SportsCafe, which is now a podcast Sportscafe-ish and The Crowd Goes Wild.
An image of Peter Snell, arms raised crossing the finish line at the Olympic Games. The words 'Sports History NZ' are superimposed in a striped font. RNZ logo is in the top left corner.

Steve Williams - NZ's most famous golf caddy

Steve Williams is widely regarded as one of the most successful caddies in golf history. He caddied for Tiger Woods for 12 years, winning 13 majors together. The pair parted ways in 2011. Now Steve has written a book "Together we Roared" about his time caddying for Tiger.
An image of Peter Snell, arms raised crossing the finish line at the Olympic Games. The words 'Sports History NZ' are superimposed in a striped font. RNZ logo is in the top left corner.

Phil Gifford on the legacy of Stu Wilson

New Zealand rugby lost another great with Stu Wilson dying at the age of 70. For most of his career, Stu served as a winger, playing 85 games for the All Blacks and almost 200 for Wellington. Sports journalist and broadcaster Phil Gifford joins Jesse to look back at Stu Wilson's career.
An image of Peter Snell, arms raised crossing the finish line at the Olympic Games. The words 'Sports History NZ' are superimposed in a striped font. RNZ logo is in the top left corner.

Adrian Blincoe

For today's sporting history, Perlina Lau talks to Adrian Blincoe who was a distance runner who represented New Zealand at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He also held the New Zealand record for the 5000m for 15 years.