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Kiwi biathlete Sarah Murphy - Source: Getty -
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New Zealand will send its first biathlete to the Winter Olympic Games with 21-year-old Canadian New Zealander Sarah Murphy confirmed to the team.
The news came overnight after a nail-biting wait for a quota spot and brings the final New Zealand team size to 16.
Murphy had been selected to the team pending a spot being allocated from the International Federation.
The New Zealand Olympic Team to Vancouver 2010 will be made up of the largest number of individuals to ever represent New Zealand at a Olympic Winter Games.
In addition to New Zealand's first biathlete it includes the largest number of snowboarders and our first male cross country skier.
Murphy is delighted to be selected.
"I love the idea of being the first competitor to represent New Zealand in the biathlon and I want to help develop the sport in New Zealand," she said.
Biathlon is the only sport that is both static (shooting) and dynamic (cross country skiing) and takes place in temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees celcius.
Peter Wardell, Chef de Mission to Vancouver 2010, says the naming of the full team is a significant milestone and came just 16 days out from the opening ceremony.
"It's awesome to have it all finalised," he said.
"We're heading off to Vancouver this weekend and the athletes will be coming into the villages in Vancouver and Whistler shortly after. I'm delighted to be working with New Zealand's top winter athletes who will make New Zealand proud."
