Nigel Avery, a distinguished Olympian and five-time Commonwealth Games medallist, will lead New Zealand’s team at the 2024 Paris Olympics as Chef de Mission. Avery, who was the closing ceremony flagbearer at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, has a long history in sports.
Avery competed in the 105+ kg weightlifting category at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, setting three personal bests and three Commonwealth records. By the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, he was ranked first in the clean and jerk and second in the snatch. Avery dominated his division, winning two golds and a silver and setting a Games record with a 215 kg clean and jerk.
In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Avery has been active in sports governance and coaching. He served as Auckland Weightlifting President and High Performance Manager at the Millennium Institute of Sport & Health. Avery also led the New Zealand team at the Sydney Youth Olympic Festival in 2007 and was part of the NZOC Athletes’ Commission.
Avery and his wife Shelley live in Hawke’s Bay with their three teenage daughters. Despite the challenges of a condensed Olympic cycle due to COVID-19, Avery remains optimistic about New Zealand’s prospects at the Paris 2024 Games. However, he acknowledges that maintaining the high medal count from Tokyo 2020 will be challenging.
“We’ve done super well in recent Olympics, but it’s tough to keep improving for a nation of our size,” Avery said. “There are always ups and downs, but I expect we will have our fair share of success.”
Avery’s leadership and experience will be crucial as New Zealand’s athletes prepare to compete in Paris, one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
