New Zealand will take home a near-record haul of medals from the Tokyo Olympics, according to analysis from American outlet Associated Press.
Ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, which begins on Wednesday night (NZ time), AP has analysed every event at the upcoming games, predicting which athletes and teams will take home medals.
According to AP New Zealand will win eight gold medals, double the four gold medals it won at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
At Rio New Zealand won four golds, nine silvers and three bronzes for a total of 18 medals - one more than what's been tipped for Tokyo, albeit with a significantly better haul of gold this time around.
Lisa Carrington is predicted to bring home nearly half of the gold medals, tipped to take first in the K1 200m, K1 500m and the K2 500m alongside Caitlin Regal.
The bulk of New Zealand's golds are predicted to come on the water, with the rowing women's eight are also predicted to beat Australia to win gold in their event, alongside the women's pair of Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler. The women's double sculls duo of Brooke Donoghue and Hannah Osborne are also predicted to win gold.
Unsurprisingly, the men's 49er pair of Peter Burling and Blair Tuke are predicted to defend their Rio gold,
Elsewhere, the Black Ferns sevens are predicted to win gold, beating Australia in the final in what would be sweet revenge for the Rio games five years ago.
The All Blacks sevens won't fare as well though, predicted to settle for silver behind 2016 champions Fiji.
Weightlifter Laurel Hubbard is predicted to reach the podium, backed for silver in the women's 87kg+ division, with China's Li Wenwen tipped for gold.
Boxer David Nyika is another predicted for silver, behind Kazakhstan's Vassiliy Levit in the heavyweight division.
After heart-breaking fourth placed finishes in London 2012 and Rio 2016, Emma Twigg is predicted to finally break her Olympics duck, and will take silver - finishing second to Ireland's Sanita Puspure.
America's Cup winner Josh Junior is predicted to finish second in the men's finn.
Shot put pair of Tom Walsh and Dame Valerie Adams are both predicted to win bronze. Walsh also won bronze in Rio, while Dame Valerie won silver, as well as golds in both Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
The rowing men's pair of Brook Robertson and Stephen Jones are predicted to add another bronze for New Zealand, predicted to add to the haul of gold medals won on the water.
Lastly, Tim Price is predicted to win bronze in the individual eventing, five years after travelling to the Rio Olympics as a reserve.
An eight gold medal haul would see New Zealand equal its best return from a single Games, coming at the 1984 campaign in Los Angeles.
However, swimmer Lewis Clareburt isn't predicted to medal in the pool, despite being considered a serious contender to end New Zealand's 25-year drought of medals in the pool.
Join Newshub for live updates of the Tokyo Olympics, starting from 11:30pm Wednesday.
