Zoe Hobbs (Ngāruahine) is a highly accomplished New Zealand sprinter (28),based in Auckland and hailing from the small rural town of Stratford, Taranaki. At 28, she has repeatedly broken her own New Zealand 100m record as well as Oceania records, with her 10.94s time standing as the fastest ever recorded by a New Zealander and Australian.
At the Paris Olympics, Zoe became the first New Zealand woman since the 1970s to contest the 100m sprint, finishing 14th among a field of 94 of the world’s fastest women competitors - a remarkable achievement in one of the Games’ most competitive events. As a trailblazer in a non-traditional event for New Zealand, she strives to inspire the next generation to chase their dreams, no matter the obstacles. Off the track, Zoe’s passion for health, wellbeing, and nutrition led her to earn a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition from Massey University in 2021.
She has competed at the highest international level, including the Olympics, the World Indoor Championships (where she came within 0.01 seconds of a medal), the Commonwealth Games, and multiple World Outdoor Championships. Across her career, Zoe has established 28 New Zealand records, often improving on her own previous marks. Highlights include the Oceania & NZ women’s 100m and 60m records, the NZ U20 100m record, the NZ women’s 4x100m record, and the NZ & Australian All-Comers 100m records, making her the fastest person ever to run on New Zealand and Australian soil. Between 2012 and 2025, she has also amassed 28 National Championship medals, 21 of them gold. Her international accolades include a bronze medal in the 4x100m at the 2019 World University Games and a 100m gold at the 2013 Australian Youth Olympic Festival.
The 2025 season was a career highlight, with Zoe earning a podium finish at the Monaco Diamond League, finishing 12th in the 100m at the World Championships, and 6th at the World Indoor Championships.
Zoe’s relentless dedication, resilience, and record-breaking performances make her a standout figure in sprinting and a proud ambassador for New Zealand on the world stage.
