31 minutes ago

In pictures: NZ athletes in action on the first day of the Paris Olympics

31 minutes ago
New Zealand's defender Tyler Bindon controls the ball in the men's group A football match between New Zealand and the USA during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Marseille Stadium in Marseille on July 27, 2024.

New Zealand's defender Tyler Bindon tries to take hold of the ball in their lost (1-4) match against the USA. Photo: AFP / Clement Mahoudeau

Our athletes kicked off the Olympics in style, with many cruising to the top of the leaderboards on the first official day of competition.

Here are the highlights.

New Zealand's Billy Stairmand drops into a wave in the 5th heat of the men's surfing round 1, during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in Teahupo'o, on the French Polynesian Island of Tahiti, on July 27, 2024.

Billy Stairmand drops into a wave in the 5th heat of the men's surfing round 1. Photo: AFP / Jerome Brouillet

New Zealand's Billy Stairmand duck dives a wave in the 5th heat of the men's surfing round 1, during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in Teahupo'o, on the French Polynesian Island of Tahiti, on July 27, 2024.

Billy Stairmand duck dives a wave in the 5th heat of the men's surfing round 1. Photo: Ben Thouard / POOL / AFP

New Zealand's Erika Fairweather competes in  a heat of the women's 400m freestyle swimming event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Paris La Defense Arena in Nanterre, west of Paris, on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP)

Erika Fairweather in action in the 400m women's freestyle heats. Photo: AFP/JONATHAN NACKSTRAND

New Zealand's forward #11 Jesse Randall scores his team's goal in the men's group A football match between New Zealand and the USA during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Marseille Stadium in Marseille on July 27, 2024.

Forward Jesse Randall scores his New Zealand's only goal in group A match against the USA. Photo: AFP / Clement Mahoudeau

New Zealand's Thomas Mackintosh competes in the men's single sculls heats rowing competition at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Centre in Vaires-sur-Marne during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)

Rower Tom Mackintosh cruises to a comfortable win in his heat in the men's single scull, beating defending gold medallist Stefanos Ntouskos, of Greece. Photo: AFP/BERTRAND GUAY

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 27: Emma Twigg of Team New Zealand competes in the Women's Single Scull heat during day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Vaires-Sur-Marne Nautical Stadium on July 27, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Emma Twigg takes the lead in her women's single scull heat. Photo: Getty Images/Justin Setterfield

New Zealand's Brooke Francis (L) and New Zealand's Lucy Spoors compete in the women's double sculls heats rowing competition at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Centre in Vaires-sur-Marne during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)

Brooke Francis, left, and Lucy Spoors row to victory in the women's double scull heats. Photo: AFP/BERTRAND GUAY

New Zealand's Robbie Manson (L) and New Zealand's Jordan Parry compete in the men's double sculls heats rowing competition at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Centre in Vaires-sur-Marne during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)

Robbie Manson, left, and Jordan Parry came second in the men's double scull heats. Photo: AFP/BERTRAND GUAY

New Zealand's Luuka Jones competes in the women's kayak single heats canoe slalom competition at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium in Vaires-sur-Marne during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 27, 2024.

Luuka Jones competes in the women's kayak single heats canoe slalom competition. Photo: AFP / Olivier Morin

(From L) New Zealand's Andrew Knewstubb, New Zealand's Tepaea Cook-Savage and New Zealand's Leroy Carter celebrate after a try during the men's placing 5-8 rugby sevens match between New-Zealand and Argentina during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on July 27, 2024. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP)

All Blacks Sevens members Andrew Knewstubb, Tepaea Cook-Savage and Leroy Carter celebrate after a try against Argentina in their 5-8 rugby sevens match. Photo: AFP/CARL DE SOUZA

Ireland's Zac Ward (R) is chased by New Zealand's Leroy Carter (L) during the men's placing 5-6 rugby sevens match between New Zealand and Ireland during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on July 27, 2024.

Ireland's Zac Ward (R) is chased by New Zealand's Leroy Carter (L) during the men's placing 5-6 rugby sevens match. Photo: AFP / Carl de Souza

New Zealand's Moses Leo scores a try during the men's placing 5-8 rugby sevens match between New-Zealand and Argentina during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on July 27, 2024. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP)

Moses Leo scores a try during the All Blacks Sevens' 5-8 match against Argentina. Photo: AFP/CARL DE SOUZA

New Zealand's Tone Ng Shiu is tackled by Argentina's Santiago Alvarez and Argentina's Joaquin Pellandini (R) during the men's placing 5-8 rugby sevens match between New-Zealand and Argentina during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on July 27, 2024. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP)

Tone Ng Shiu is tackled by Argentina's Santiago Alvarez and Joaquin Pellandini. Photo: AFP/CARL DE SOUZA

Sam Lane celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal in the India vs New Zealand Black Sticks game during Pool B on 28 July, 2024.

Black Sticks' Sam Lane celebrates after scoring the team's first goal against India. Photo: Worldsportpics / Simon Watts

Nicholas Woods in the the India v New Zealand Black Sticks game during Pool B on 28 July, 2024.

Nicholas Woods takes control of the field hockey ball. Photo: Worldsportpics / Simon Watts

New Zealand's Kim Cadzow cycles as she competes in the women's road cycling individual time trial during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)

Kim Cadzow whizzes around the track in the road cycling time trial. Photo: AFP/DIMITAR DILKOFF

New Zealand's Kim Cadzow cycles at the start at Invalides as she competes in the women's road cycling individual time trial during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP)

Kim Cadzow at the start of the road cycling track at Invalides. Photo: AFP/EMMANUEL DUNAND

New Zealand's Kim Cadzow prepares to take the start of the women's road cycling individual time trial during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)

Kim Cadzow prepares to take to the track in the women's road cycling time trial. Photo: AFP/BEN STANSALL

PRICE Jonelle of New Zealand during the eventing, team and individual dressage, Olympic Games Paris 2024 on 27 July 2024 at Chateau de Versailles in Versailles, France - Photo Matthieu Mirville / DPPI Media / Panoramic (Photo by Matthieu Mirville - DPPI Media / DPPI Media / DPPI via AFP)

Jonelle Price and Hiarado in the dressage at the Palace of Versailles. Photo: AFP/MATTHIEU MIRVILLE

New Zealand's Clarke Johnstone on Menlo Park gives a thumbs-up as he competes in the equestrian dressage during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Chateau de Versailles in Versailles on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP)

Clarke Johnstone, riding Menlo Park in the dressage, gives a thumbs up. Photo: AFP/PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU

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