Paris Olympics: Who is dual countries' representative Georgia-Rose ...

After a career representing Australia, Georgia-Rose Brown says she got "goosebumps" when she linked up with her fellow Kiwis in Paris for the first time.

Brown, who was born in Australia to a New Zealand mum and Aussie dad, switched her allegiance to Aotearoa six months ago.

"I've had the opportunity to represent my dad's side, so now I'd like to represent my mum's side too.

"I've wanted to compete at the Olympics since I made my first international team in 2010, so this means the world to me. Everything I've worked for throughout my career has paid off."

When she arrived in the Games village in Paris, the artistic gymnast was overcome.

"It's been absolutely incredible. When I came in and got the formal welcome to the team it was surreal. I had goosebumps," she says on the New Zealand Olympic team website.

Background

Born: 22 January 1995 in Queensland

Lives in Melbourne

Has a Kiwi mum and an Australian dad

Represented Australia for 14 years

Has a Bachelor of Biomedical Science degree, studying for a Masters of Physiotherapy

Switched to represent NZ in January 2024

Hobby: ocean swimming

Event: artistic gymnastics

Achievements Won team bronze at 2010 Pacific Rim champs Won team silver at 2014 Commonwealth Games Won individual silver on balance beam and bronze in teams' event at 2018 Commonwealth Games - all four medals for Australia Has top ten finishes, both in individual and teams' events, at a variety of international events

While Brown has had experience of Commonwealth Games athletes villages, she says the Olympics one is "another level".

"The village looks amazing, I'm loving exploring and looking around."

The 29-year-old earned her Paris spot by topping the rankings at the 2024 apparatus World Cup series on the uneven bars.

While the uneven bars are her main event, she will compete in the all-around competition (vault, uneven bars, beam, and floor) at the Olympics. That's one of the sport's superstars, Simone Biles's events also.

"I had a pre-Games camp in Belgium where I trained for 10 days. I was lucky to have access to their national centre which had amazing equipment very similar to what we'll compete on in the Olympics so it's been going really well," Brown said.

While she has not competed in an all-around event for some time, she is eager to do well on every discipline.

"I've been building up well and I'm really excited to get going."

The women's artistic gymnastics competition takes place on 27-28 July in Paris, with the finals from 29 July-1 August.