Two-time Paralympian Cristeen Smith has represented New Zealand at both the Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games. At her first games she won a gold medal in the T2 100-metre wheelchair sprint and set a world record. Cristeen did one better at Atlanta 1996 winning gold in the 200-metre sprint and silver in the 800 metres. She set 6 world records for wheelchair racing.
Cristeen is still a world record holder in the women’s shot put F53 and pentathlon P52.
Cristeen played Wheelchair rugby for NZ from 1992-1995. She was vice captain for the Wheel Blacks at the first Wheelchair Rugby World Championships in Nottwil in Switzerland in 1995 where Wheel Blacks made their mark on world and placed third, winning the bronze medal.
Cristeen officially received her ‘numbered’ Paralympic pin as part of The Celebration Project in Auckland in May 2019.
