Media Release
Monday, 25 August 2008
Drysdale holds on for victory
Over the past 16 days, more than 75,000 New Zealanders voted for their favourite 2008 Olympian to win a Mitsubishi
Outlander.
In the last days of voting, it became a close-fought race. However, Mahe Drysdale held his early lead to victory and has
received the keys to New Zealand’s favourite SUV.
“Mahe’s ‘perform at all costs’ attitude almost certainly inspired people around the country,”said Mitsubishi Motors New
Zealand’s managing director John Leighton. “He shone through immense adversity and the result reinforces the fact that
while we [New Zealanders] like winning medals, we are equally, if not more, inspired by outstanding performances.”
By simply participating in the Mitsubishi competition, which was hosted on the TVNZ Olympic website, Catherine Burgess
of Whangarei also emerged a winner from over 75,000 others and will shortly be handed the keys to her new Outlander.
“It has been a brilliant competition and a great privilege for Mitsubishi Motors to be involved with the New Zealand
Olympic team over the past 10 months,” said Mr Leighton, “We’re now looking forward to awarding another Outlander to a
Paralympian and a member of the public in just over three weeks’ time.”
By visiting www.winanoutlander.co.nz between 5:00pm on 5 September and noon on 18 September, members of the public will
be able to vote for their favourite Paralympian and be in the draw to win New Zealand’s favourite SUV themselves.
Mitsubishi’s support for the New Zealand Olympic Committee and Paralympics New Zealand will continue through to 2012 and
includes the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Winter Olympics and Paralympics and the 2012 summer Olympics and Paralympics in
London.
The 2008 Paralympic games run from 6-17 September.
ENDS