Rio 2016 - Images from the NZL Sailing Team return home

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com NZL on 24 Aug 2016 On Wednesday morning, the NZL Sailing Team returned to New Zealand from the Rio Olympics.

The team had equalled the performance of the 1992 Olympic Sailing Team in Barcelona, which also won four medals. The 1984 team was the most successful in terms of Gold medals - winning in the Finn and Tornado classes.

First up was a reception for the whole Olympic Team in The Cloud - on Queen's Wharf, where 49er sailors, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke as co-captains of the NZ Olympic team and Gold Medalists were centre-stage along with kayaker Lisa Carrington who became the first New Zealand woman to win back to back Gold Medals.

A second function was held at the NZ Maritime Museum, under the hull of NZL-32, the 1995 America's Cup winner, with just the Sailing Team members and some of the coaches. The function was MC'd by Peter Montgomery and featured interviews with each of the crews before group photos and the chance to meet fans and supporters for the first time since their return.

Sail-World.com was at both functions.