Triathlete Andrea Hewitt, 25, will be representing New Zealand at the Beijing games in September – and her family in Hartlepool will be glued to their televisions.

Aunt Caroline Reynolds, 54, said: "This is the first time she's got to the Olympics, so she's very excited.

"We're all very proud of her."

Andrea is the daughter of Caroline's brother John Hewitt, who emigrated to New Zealand from Hartlepool in 1971.

Caroline, John, and sisters Christine, Cynthia and Celia grew up in Irvine Road in the Owton Manor area of the town with parents Jimmy and Marjorie Hewitt.

John, 58, who worked as a tea boy with Ringtons after leaving Brierton School, trained as a welder.

And he moved to New Zealand after being inspired by his dad, who always dreamed of moving the family there.

He met his wife Margaret while working in Christchurch, and the couple now have three children Tina, 27, Sara, 22, and 25-year-old Andrea.

All the children were into sport from an early age, and have all grown up to represent their country in various different disciplines.

Tina once won the title of "Iron Woman" of New Zealand.
Andrea started swimming from an early age and her interest in sport grew from there.

Caroline, of Castleton Road, Seaton Carew, said: "She was doing life surfing, which is a very popular sport in New Zealand.

"From that she went on to take an interest in cycling, which she was really good at because of the stamina she had got from the surfing."
Andrea competed in her first triathlon in February 2005 and became under-23 world champion in Gamagori, Japan, in the September.

In 2006, she came third in the Commonwealth games and has since added countless medals and cups to her collection.

Caroline has been keenly watching Andrea's progress and went to see her when she competed in the Salford BG Triathlon World Cup two years ago.

The family keep in touch with each other regularly by telephone and email, and will be glued to the TV for the Olympics later this summer.