Dianne Margaret Zorn-Rodger (born 9 November 1956 in Napier, New Zealand) is a New Zealand retired middle-distance runner. She competed in the 1500m at the 1976 Summer Olympics and in the 3000 m at the 1984 Summer Olympics and placed ninth in 1984. She married the New Zealand rower Dave Rodger.[2] In 1984, they became the first New Zealand married couple to compete at Olympics.[3][4][5][6][7][8]
 Zorn at the 1976 Olympics | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 9 November 1956 (age 68) Napier, New Zealand[1] |
| Height | 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) |
| Weight | 62 kg (137 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event(s) | 1500 m, 3000 m |
| Club | Hawkes Bay |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | 1500 m – 4:11.48 (1981) 3000 m – 8:47.90 (1984)[2] |
After the 1976 Olympics, she had long breaks from major competitions due to multiple injuries. She recovered by 1982, and that year placed fourth in the 1500m and 3000m events at the Commonwealth Games[9] and finished fifth at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships.[1]
Zorn graduated from the William Colenso College in Napier, and already at the age 13 qualified for the national cross-country running championships. After marriage, she moved to Hamilton, and often competed in the marathon and cross-country races in the United States. She retired after suffering a stress fracture in 1988, and later gave birth to a daughter Aynslee (b. 1989) and sons Logan (b. 1992) and Brenton (b. 1997). Logan competed internationally for New Zealand in rowing, and Aynslee played American football and Australian rules football for New South Wales.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c Evan Pegden (27 May 2014) Working with kids a far cry from the Olympic stage. Waikato Times.
- ^ a b Dianne Zorn-Rodger. sports-reference.com
- ^ Dave Rodger. New Zealand Olympic Committee
- ^ Hurndell, Shane (11 April 2013). "Hockey: Olympian welcomes Hall of Fame honour". Hawkes Bay Today. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
- ^ "Rodger on athletics board". Waikato Times. 29 October 2001. p. 13.
- ^ Smith, Jeremy (22 August 2012). "Memories made over many years". Cambridge Edition. Fairfax New Zealand. p. 5.
- ^ Topp, Nevin (25 February 1976). "Napier girl has Olympic hopes". The Press. p. 18. Retrieved 1 August 2022 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "New "wonder girl"". The Press. 19 January 1976. p. 24. Retrieved 1 August 2022 – via Papers Past.
- ^ Dianne Rodger. Commonwealth Games Federation
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