The first Olympic Champion from New Zealand was 28-year old swimmer Malcolm Champion, who swam the third leg of the 4 x 200 m Freestyle Relay as part of an "Australasian" team at Stockholm on 15 July 1912.

New Zealanders first competed at the Olympics in 1908 and have won medals at every Games (except 1948 and 1980). In 1908 and 1912, New Zealand competitors joined those from Australia, since the New Zealand Olympic movement had not yet been recognized by the IOC.