Skip directly to main content.

The Chosen Ones

In the TV series The Chosen Ones, New Zealand sporting greats revealed their stories to veteran interviewer Ian Smith.

Below you can watch highlights from the series.

  • You'll gain a new understanding of what it takes to be a champion, or a champion's coach.
  • You'll get the inside story, with fresh insight.
  • You'll see original footage of the best action.

And like us, you'll find it impossible not to be inspired.

Steve Williams. Steve Williams

"Tiger will probably tell you - while I'm not a shrink, I'm probably the only person he's come across who can read his mind."

> What's it really like to caddy for the world's greatest golfer? (Time: 2:05)

Tab Baldwin. Tab Baldwin

"What we had started to build was a mindset that we can be giant-killers - that we can reach heights that other teams haven't even aspired to."

> How does it feel when a team defeats a foe that for decades has been virtually invincible? (Time: 1:32)

Sir Brian Lochore. Sir Brian Lochore

"I just had a great period in rugby as a player and I just would not swop anything." 

> After 43 years involvement in high-level rugby, what does one of our top people see as having been the best aspect of it? (Time: 1:32)

Danyon Loader. Danyon Loader

"Always through the race I was saying, 'Don't you give in, don't count out the Kiwi'."

> What does a high-performance swimmer tell themselves as they strive towards Olympic gold? (Time: 2:06)

Irene Van Dyk. Irene Van Dyk

"There were just cameras everywhere and I thought, 'Wicked! There must be someone famous coming up behind me'."

> How do you make a new life in New Zealand, in the public eye? (Time: 2:03)

Tawera Nikau. Tawera Nikau

"It was probably the highlight of my career - winning the 1999 NRL grand final."

> What are the roots of one of our top rugby league players? (Time: 2:07) 

John Walker. John Walker

"I showed the power of the black singlet and the silver fern."

> What goes through an elite athlete's mind in the hours leading up to a big race? (Time: 2:09)

Chris Cairns. Chris Cairns

"The best all-rounder in the world - that's all I wanted to be."

> How does a top cricket player decide when it's time to retire? (Time: 2:08)


 Resources

You'll need Windows Media Player installed to watch these videos.


 Sponsor

The Chosen Ones was sponsored by SPARC.

Updated | 28 Aug 2007.

Skip page tools.




Note: You are reading this message either because you can not see our css files, or because you do not have a standards-compliant browser. Although the content of this site will be accessible in any browser, please consider upgrading to a web-standards compliant browser such as Mozilla to fully experience the design of this site.

Back to top.