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DEAF GAMES

New Zealand won its first gold medal at the world games for the deaf in California yesterday when cyclist John Ootman (Feilding) won the 35km time trial in 51m 10s. New Zealand results were:

Cycling: 100km race: Ootman 5th, Haden Coster 10th.

Athletics: Susan Ovens (Auckland) qualified for the 800m with a personal best of 2m 34.56s and bettered that in the final — she was sixth — with 2m 24s.

Table tennis: men’s doubles: Kaz Witko (Wellington) and Adrian Winterburn (Napier) lost to India 0–3.

Basketball: New Zealand lost to France 56–88 and are now out of the competition.

Badminton men’s singles: Jonathan Anton (Auckland) lost to Britain 0–2, beat USA 2–0, lost to Denmark 0–2, lost to Canada 0–2, lost to Sweden 0–2; C Murray Kirk (Christchurch) lost to Britain 0–2, lost to Sweden 0–2, lost to Denmark 0–2, beat Canada 2–0; Douglas Croskery (Auckland) lost to Britain 0–2, lost to Italy 0–2, lost to Denmark 0–2, lost to Canada 0–2; C Lindsay Bamford (Wellington) lost to Britain 0–2, beat Italy 2–0, lost to Denmark 0–2, beat Canada 2–0.

Women’s singles: Pamela Croskery (Auckland) lost to Norway 0–2; Carolyn Hamlin (Christchurch) beat Sweden 2–1; Penny Went (Auckland) beat USA 2–0; Janet Watt beat Sweden 2–0.

Women’s doubles: Hamlin and Watt beat Britain 2–1 and Sweden 2–0; Croskery and Went beat Britain 2–0.

Mixed doubles: Anton and Croskery lost to Sweden 0–2; Kirk and Hamlin beat USA 2–0; Croskery and Went lost to Britain 0–2.

Men’s doubles: Croskery and Anton lost to Sweden 0–2; Bamford and Kirk beat Italy 2–0.

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NZSL story – Taonga source: Jeff Went

Fighting for 9th: New Zealand vs Canada at the World Deaf Games

In their final game at the World Deaf Games in Los Angeles, the New Zealand team was determined to finish on a high with a win against Canada. It was a closely fought, back-and-forth match, but New Zealand dug deep and came out on top – a result that made Coach Jeff Went proud of the team’s effort. While most of the players celebrated with a well-earned holiday in Hawaii, Jeff and Penny flew straight home to focus on caring for their young child after a full-on stretch in Los Angeles.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Susie Ovens

Back to Auckland?! The Detour No One Expected

Susie’s trip to the 1985 World Deaf Games in Los Angeles didn’t go quite to plan. After taking off on a late-night flight, a flight attendant casually mentioned they were heading back to Auckland. Susie thought it was a joke – until she saw the Auckland sign out the window. The Deaf basketball boys had spotted flames coming from one of the engines. Everyone stayed calm, and the group spent the night at a hotel on Campbell Road (now a retirement village) before flying out the next day via Hawaii. A longer trip than expected – but definitely one to remember.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Tony Walton

From Engine Trouble to Door Trouble: NZ’s Journey to Los Angeles

After a dramatic return to Auckland due to engine trouble – and a bit of panic – the NZ Deaf team’s trip to the 1985 World Games in Los Angeles was already shaping up to be an adventure to remember. Things escalated after an overnight stop in Hawaii, when Team Manager Tony Walton discovered two athletes missing during the morning headcount. Despite furious banging on their hotel door, the pair slept through it all – until staff were finally ordered to break the door down to wake them! It was a chaotic start to the Games, but the team eventually made it to LA in one piece.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Pam Croskery

A Point Away from Gold: Pam Looks Back

A framed photo of Pam Croskery and Penny Went with their silver medals from the Los Angeles World Deaf Games proudly hangs in the ADS clubroom. Pam reflects on that moment and their achievement in the women’s badminton doubles. Players were selected two years ahead to allow time for training. Pam admits she was nervous going to Los Angeles, knowing NZ was a small country with fewer playing opportunities compared to others. Despite this, she and Penny hit top form. In the singles, Pam faced a 16-year-old Norwegian who thrashed them both. In doubles, they missed out on gold by just one point, narrowly beaten by their Christchurch teammates.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Terry Kane

Farewell on Dominion Road: Terry’s World Games Memory

Terry Kane represented New Zealand in the 10,000m and marathon at the 1985 World Deaf Games in Los Angeles. Before departing, the full NZ team was farewelled with a march along Dominion Road, escorted by police, followed by a send-off at Auckland Deaf Society. Terry felt proud to wear the silver fern and knew everyone on the team had earned their place through hard work.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Terry Kane

Fractured but Fighting: Terry’s Marathon Comeback

Three months before the 1985 World Deaf Games in Los Angeles, Terry Kane fractured his leg while training at Mt Albert, hitting hidden wood in overgrown grass. With support from his hearing coach, he recovered through swimming, medication, and determination. Despite hot weather and poor air quality, Terry placed 13th out of around 33 runners in the marathon. Fellow New Zealanders Kevin Lawrence and Noel Coventry were forced to pull out, but Terry kept going.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Jonathan Anton

Los Angeles 1985: A Tough Tournament for Jonathan

Jonathan was selected to represent New Zealand at the 1985 World Deaf Games in Los Angeles, competing in badminton across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Unfortunately, a severe case of the flu struck just before the Games – so bad that he couldn’t even appear in the team photo. As a result, he wasn’t able to perform at his best and didn’t achieve the outcome he had hoped for. After the Games, Jonathan made the difficult decision to step away from the sport to focus on his family, having been playing five times a week while also working full time.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Jeff Went

Behind the Bench: Coaching Deaf Basketball on the World Stage

Jeff Went reflects on his experience coaching the New Zealand Deaf men’s basketball team at the XV World Deaf Games in Los Angeles. The trip began with an unexpected twist when their flight turned back a few hours after take-off due to engine trouble. From grabbing McDonald’s on arrival in LA to settling into life at Pepperdine University in scenic Malibu, the team took it all in stride – navigating the buzz of the opening ceremony and the long daily commutes to basketball practice. It was a journey full of challenges, highlights, and lasting memories.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Jeff Went

NZ Deaf Basketball Qualifies for 1985 World Deaf Games

In a thrilling comeback, the New Zealand’s Deaf men’s basketball team defeated Australia 72–68 to qualify for the XV World Games for Deaf in Los Angeles 1985. Coached by Aussie-born Jeff, who had just five days to prepare with the team, New Zealand overcame a rocky start and halftime deficit. After a fiery team talk, they rallied in front of a packed crowd – securing their ticket to Los Angeles just 10 months out!
NZSL story – Taonga source: Tony Walton

The Mighty Kiwi: More Than Just a Mascot

The giant Kiwi mascot was a hit with crowds and delegates alike at the 1985 World Games for the Deaf. Carried proudly by the New Zealand Deaf team during team photos, ceremonies, and marches, it drew plenty of attention and added flair to the team’s presence. Tony Walton believes the mascot wasn’t just a crowd-pleaser – it also played a part in swaying CISS delegates to vote for New Zealand to host the 1989 Games. For Tony, strong promotion made all the difference. The beloved Kiwi mascot continued to feature at the 1989 Games and other Deaf sporting events, becoming a symbol of national pride and team spirit.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Terry Kane

Knocked Down, Kept Running: Terry at Los Angeles 1985

At the 1985 World Deaf Games in Los Angeles, 24-year-old Terry Kane competed in the 10,000m and the marathon. During the 10,000m, two Deaf Italian runners pushed him, causing him to fall and collide with fellow Kiwi Noel Coventry. The Italians were disqualified. Despite being shaken, Terry refused to pull out. He also ran the marathon, though he didn’t place in the top eight. He recalls training over 140 kilometres a week, with a personal best of 2 hours, 27 minutes and 32 seconds.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Janet Watt

Winning gold in the badminton doubles at Los Angeles 1985!

Janet Watt reflects on her gold medal win in the women’s badminton doubles at the 1985 World Games for the Deaf in Los Angeles. She and her partner Carolyn Hamlin, both based in Christchurch and seeded number one for New Zealand, took the top spot. Auckland duo Pam Croskery and Penny Went also made the podium with a silver medal, marking a proud moment for the NZ team. Janet credits her mum for the encouragement that kept her going. Without that support, she says, she might never have made it to LA – let alone won gold.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Tony Walton

Proud to Represent: NZ’s 1985 Deaf Games Send-Off

Tony Walton, Team Manager for the 44-strong New Zealand squad, recalls the unforgettable send-off for the 1985 World Games for the Deaf in Los Angeles. The entire team marched proudly down Dominion Road with a police escort, cheered on by the community, before gathering at Auckland Deaf Society for speeches and food. Their official team uniform was sponsored by Morris Coutts’ workplace – a smart way to save costs ahead of the international trip.
Adrian Winterburn
Adrian Winterburn
Carolyn Berry (Hamlin)
Carolyn Berry (Hamlin)
Doug (Douglas) Croskery
Doug (Douglas) Croskery
Janet Watt
Janet Watt
John (Johannes) Ooteman
John (Johannes) Ooteman
Jonathan Anton
Jonathan Anton
Kaz Witko
Kaz Witko
Lindsay (Lee) Bamford
Lindsay (Lee) Bamford
Murray Kirk
Murray Kirk
Pam Croskery (McCullough)
Pam Croskery (McCullough)
Penny Went (Clements)
Penny Went (Clements)
Susie (Suzanne) Ovens
Susie (Suzanne) Ovens

Relevant Links

Taonga source:
The Evening Post
Reference number:
SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand, A1985-008
Bibliographic source:
The Evening Post, 17 July 1985, p.31
Copyright status:
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Note:
This item has been transcribed and/or OCR post-corrected. It also has been compressed and/or edited.

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1989
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Deaf athletes will be out to win medals

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Engine issue delays the New Zealand team’s journey to Los Angeles

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Auckland gives the New Zealand Deaf team a proper send off!

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1985
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Medal ceremony: Our badminton champions collect their medals!

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ADS Badminton Club celebrates its 40th birthday!

The ADS Badminton Club, well known for recognising its milestones, has a well-attended dinner at Auckland Deaf Society to celebrate its 40th birthday!
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1985
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Opening ceremony of the VX World Games for the Deaf

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