Pole vaulter Eliza McCartney has been named the New Zealand Team's flag bearer for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony after beating reigning Olympic champion Nina Kennedy to gold.
McCartney was announced as Ngā Pou Hāpai Wahine by New Zealand Team chef de mission Nigel Avery at a closing team function overnight.
Avery said McCartney reflected the values of the wider squad.
"She embodies the traits we value in the New Zealand Team. She has shown incredible resilience, competes with courage, carries herself with humility and has the respect of her teammates and competitors alike. We're proud to have her carry the flag for Aotearoa New Zealand," he said.
"Eliza's performance in Glasgow was exceptional, defeating the Olympic champion Nina Kennedy on her way to gold in Glasgow. It was special to see her on top of the dais after a journey that has seen its fair share of ups and downs."
McCartney said the honour meant a great deal.
"This team means a lot to me and to have the honour of carrying the flag at the closing ceremony is another special memory I can take from these Games," she said.
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McCartney's gold was one of several standout results for the New Zealand Team in Glasgow. The swimming squad claimed 10 medals, with Erika Fairweather and Lewis Clareburt taking eight between them. Fairweather's five medals equalled Danyon Loader's mark for the most individual medals by a New Zealander at a single Commonwealth Games.
On the track, Zoe Hobbs won gold in the women's 100m, running 10.93s in wet conditions to take one of the glamour events of the Games. Weightlifter David Liti won the men's +110kg division by a single kilogram with his final lift, needing 223kg in the clean and jerk to seal the title.
The New Zealand Netball Team went through the Games unbeaten, overwhelming Jamaica 56-48 in the gold medal match, while Sydnee Andrews claimed gold in the 78+kg judo division - New Zealand's first judo gold since Brent Cooper at the Auckland 1990 Games.
New Zealand Olympic Committee chief executive Nicki Nicol congratulated the wider team.
"Our athletes have represented Aotearoa New Zealand with pride, both in competition and in the way they've supported one another throughout the Games," she said.
"Behind every performance in Glasgow are years of work from athletes, coaches, support staff, High Performance Sport New Zealand, National Sporting Organisations, whānau and communities throughout New Zealand."
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games brought together athletes from 74 nations and territories across 10 sports and six integrated Para sports.
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