Beatrice Faumuina (NZL) with 2002 Commonwealth Discus gold medal (© Getty Images)
Beatrice Faumuina was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in the Queen's Birthday honours, for services to athletics.
Faumuina has established herself as one of the nation's leading internationally recognised sports heroes.
Her dedication and commitment to the sport of athletics, and in particular the Discus Throw, has taken her to the highest honours on the world stage, bringing recognition to the sport and New Zealand.
In 1997 Faumuina became the first and to date the only New Zealander to win a World Athletic Championship title, with her gold medal in the discus at Athens.
Following this achievement Faumuina was awarded the Halberg supreme award as well as the New Zealand sports woman of the year.
Faumuina has also won the Commonwealth Games Discus Throw gold medal twice, in 1998 and 2002 as well as the IAAF World Cup gold medal in Madrid in 2002.
Her standing in athletics world wide has been recognised by the IAAF (International Association of Athletic Federations), with her appointment last year as a member of the Athletes' Commission.
Faumuina said that it was an honour and privilege to receive the Queen's Birthday honour.
Athletics New Zealand
