FEBRUARY
6
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott creates history with New Zealand's first winter Olympics gold medal, wins women's slopestyle
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott has made Kiwi history, winning New Zealand's first Winter Olympics gold medal in the women's slopestyle at Beijing's Genting Snow Park.
The snowboarder saved her best for last, snatching victory with a near-flawless final run of 92.88, bettering American Julia Marino's 87.68.
Entering the final as the top qualifier, Sadowski-Synnott, 20, was the favourite to take out the title and jumped straight into gold-medal contention, scoring 84.51 to leapfrog Australian Tess Coady into first place.
But the second round showed Sadowski-Synnott she wouldn't have things her own way, as Marino temporarily knocked the Kiwi down into silver position.
10
'Crazy' new deal makes Israel Adesanya one of top paid athletes in 'history of MMA'
Kiwi mixed martial arts superstar Israel Adesanya has inked one of the richest contracts in UFC history.
According to Adesanya's management at Paradigm Sports, the contract is "one of the most lucrative multi-fight deals in company history", which will make him "one of the top paid athletes in the history of mixed martial arts".
While he wouldn't discuss details, Adesanya describes the figures as "crazy", but insists money has become only a secondary motivation in his flourishing fight career.
"It's a big deal, it's a f*cking big deal," Adesanya said.
12
Global fury directed towards Russia after teenager Kamila Valieva's failed drugs test at Winter Olympics
Russian skating prodigy Kamila Valieva's failed drug test before her dazzling Winter Games team gold has thrown the 15-year-old's Olympic future into doubt and reawakened global anger over Moscow's doping history.
But the Kremlin - already facing Western diplomatic wrath over a troop build-up near Ukraine - is also defiant in the sporting terrain, calling Valieva's case a "misunderstanding".
"Hold your head up, you're a Russian," government spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged her. "Go proudly and beat everyone."
The teenager became the first woman to land a quadruple jump at the Olympics on Monday, winning a team figure skating gold with the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).
13
NZ Olympic great Sir Mark Todd apologises after social media video emerges of horse being whipped with stick
NZ Olympic great Sir Mark Todd has apologised for a social media video of him beating a horse.
In a video posted to TikTok, a man alleged to be double Olympic gold medallist Sir Mark is seen striking a horse repeatedly with a stick, after it stops in front of a water obstacle.
The original video, which has since been deleted and replaced by a shorter clip, was captioned, "After seeing the full video, anyone is still indecisive over there [sic] stance on this, IT IS abusive and IT IS unacceptable", by TikTok user chloet.eventing.
The footage shown in the post is understood to be two years old.
18
Kiwi crosscode star Honey Hireme-Smiler helps wife through heartbreaking battle with terminal cancer
As one of the most intimidating onfield combatants in NZ rugby and league history, crosscode international Honey Hireme-Smiler prides herself on giving no quarter between the white chalk.
Whether for the Black Ferns, Kiwi Ferns or Black Ferns Sevens jersey, Hireme-Smiler was a jaw-dropping package of terrifying physical force and relentless competitiveness during her unprecedented 18-year career.
But when she hung up her boots for good in 2020, she never realised her biggest challenge would come outside those lines she'd dedicated her life to.
After feeling unwell for a couple of days, Hireme-Smiler's wife of two years and partner of 10 - Rochelle Smiler - visited her doctor for routine blood tests, which revealed what was initially diagnosed as gallstones.
In December, an ensuing CT scan at Waikato Hospital returned a much more sinister diagnosis.
19
Kiwi freeskier Nico Porteous snatches New Zealand's second Winter Olympics gold in halfpipe final
Kiwi freeskier Nico Porteous has secured New Zealand's second-ever Winter Olympics gold medal, with victory in the men's halfpipe final at Beijing.
A bronze medallist in the same event four years ago, the reigning world champion progressed second through qualifying, behind two-time world champ Aaron Blunck, but showed he was the one to beat early, landing a 93.00 performance with his first run of the day.
"I can't believe it," Porteous told Sky Sports afterwards. "It's been so heavy on my mind for the past three months and I'm lost for words."
21
Defender Meikayla Moore scores perfect hat-trick of own goals as New Zealand crushed by USA
Football Ferns defender Meikayla Moore has endured a horrendous outing in New Zealand's 5-0 loss to USA at the SheBelieves Cup, scoring a perfect hat-trick of own goals.
A perfect hat-trick sees a player score with their head, as well as both feet, and Moore did just that - for the other team - as the NZ women took on the reigning world champions at Los Angeles.
"Each player who has played - and it doesn't matter what level - has great games and tough games," said New Zealand coach Jitka Klimkova. "Mouse (Moore) had a tough day at the office.
"Obviously, she's sad and disappointed, but she's an unbelievable person and player who belongs on this team. We are all behind her in this tough moment for her."
24
Dame Lisa Carrington rewards herself with 30-minute sleep-in after second Halberg Awards triumph
Dame Lisa Carrington has indulged in a special treat to celebrate her second Supreme Halberg Awards win - 30 minutes extra in bed, before getting back out on the water for training.
"This is my work and at the end of the day," Dame Lisa said. "I still want to keep turning up for that."
Carrington truly has no days off, demonstrating the commitment and insatiable desire for success that's kept her at the top of the canoe-racing world for the past decade.
Her historic trio of gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics last year instantly penciled her in for another haul of Halbergs, and she came away from the 59th edition of New Zealand's premier sports prizegiving with both the Sportswoman of the Year and the prestigious Supreme prize.
25
Former All Blacks, Manu Samoa star Va'aiga Tuigamala dies, aged 52
Former All Blacks and Samoa star Va'aiga Tuigamala has died, aged 52.
Affectionately know as 'Inga the Winger', the rampaging back played 19 tests for the All Blacks between 1991-93, before later switching to Manu Samoa in 1996 and playing 23 tests for his country of heritage.
In 1994, Tuigamala crossed over to rugby league, playing more than 100 games for UK powerhouse Wigan and two tests for Samoa at the 1995 World Cup.
Tuigamala's death comes just weeks after younger sister Helen Verry - the youngest of his 14 siblings - died in an accident at a West Auckland church.
