New Zealand Olympic Team

An 11-strong swimming squad has been named to characterize the New Zealand Team on the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, headlined by 2024 world champions Erika Fairweather and Lewis Clareburt. 

The workforce showcases the depth and development of expertise in New Zealand swimming, with 5 athletes named for his or her first Commonwealth Games. 

The athletes had been chosen off the again of excellent performances through the qualification window, together with on the New Zealand Swimming Championships in Auckland final month the place Fairweather broke her personal nationwide document within the 200m Freestyle with a time of 1:55.06. 

It shall be a busy Games for Fairweather who has been named throughout 4 particular person occasions; the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m Freestyle, in addition to taking up relay duties in each the 4x200m Women’s Freestyle and the 4x100m Mixed Freestyle. 

“Glasgow is going to be an amazing experience and I’m really looking forward to the competition,” mentioned Fairweather.  

“I’m really excited to have the opportunity to compete for my first Commonwealth Games medal.” 

Caitlin Deans, Milana Tapper and Eve Thomas will be a part of Fairweather within the 4x200m Women’s Freestyle Relay, whereas Chelsey Edwards, Cameron Gray and Carter Swift will contest the 4x100m Mixed Freestyle Relay alongside Fairweather.  

Outside of the Relays, Deans and Thomas are named for the 400m and 800m Freestyle occasions, whereas Edwards, Tapper, Gray and Swift every line up throughout combos of the 200m, 100m and 50m Freestyle and Butterfly. 

Meanwhile, Medley specialist Clareburt is ready to compete in 4 occasions after main a standout swimming marketing campaign on the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games the place he received gold within the 400m Individual Medley – a Commonwealth document time.  

He additionally topped the rostrum within the 200m Butterfly and received bronze within the 200m Individual Medley. He will contest these occasions once more in Glasgow, including the 200m Freestyle after smashing the New Zealand document earlier this yr. 

Another Birmingham 2022 champion who’s again within the combine at Glasgow 2026 is Para swimmer Josh Willmer.  

The 21-year-old received gold within the Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB8 at Birmingham 2022 and can compete up a classification at Glasgow 2026, taking up the SB9, with the SB8 not on the Games programme.  

Butterfly specialist Hazel Ouwehand is aiming for her first Commonwealth medal as she contests the 50m and 100m Butterfly. Ouwehand has been in high quality type, presently ranked within the high eight on the planet throughout the 50m distance this season. 

Junior World Champion, Zoe Pedersen, joins Ouwehand within the 50m Butterfly. At simply 19-years-old, Pedersen can even contest the 50m and 100m Freestyle.  

Swimming New Zealand Head Coach – Olympic Pathway, Graham Hill, mentioned the workforce is constructing effectively forward of their Glasgow 2026 marketing campaign. 

“The depth in this squad, across relays, individual events and Para swimming gives us real reason for confidence. We’re going to be very competitive and every athlete on this team is capable of outstanding performances,” mentioned Hill. 

“The Commonwealth Games is a pinnacle campaign for us and crucially, it also gives us a great opportunity to compete and test ourselves at an elite event just two years out from the Olympic Games.”  

New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) CEO, Nicki Nicol, welcomed the announcement.  

“Congratulations to all the athletes selected to the New Zealand Team for Glasgow 2026. We know this selection comes off the back of years of hard graft and sacrifice,” mentioned Nicol. 

“At any Games, the swimming occasions are all the time keenly adopted and the competitiveness and requirements will once more be excessive. We know you’ll all characterize New Zealand effectively and put on the fern with satisfaction. “ 

NZ Team – Swimming | Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games 

Erika Fairweather: Women’s 200m, 400m, 800m & 1500m Freestyle; 4x200m Women’s Freestyle Relay; 4x100m Mixed Freestyle Relay  

Lewis Clareburt: Men’s 200m & 400m Individual Medley 

Hazel Ouwehand: Women’s 50m  

Zoe Pedersen: Women’s 50m Butterfly 

Caitlin Deans: 4x200m Women’s Freestyle Relay 

Milana Tapper: 4x200m Women’s Freestyle Relay 

Eve Thomas: 4x200m Women’s Freestyle Relay 

Chelsey Edwards: 4x100m Mixed Freestyle Relay 

Cameron Gray: 4x100m Mixed Freestyle Relay 

Carter Swift: 4x100m Mixed Freestyle Relay 

Josh Willmer: Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB9 

The following athletes have additionally been efficiently granted permission to start out within the following occasions on the Games: 

Lewis Clareburt: Men’s 200m Butterfly & 200m Freestyle 

Hazel Ouwehand: Women’s 100m Butterfly 

Chelsey Edwards: Women’s 50m Freestyle & 100m Freestyle 

Cameron Gray: Men’s 100m Freestyle & 50m Butterfly 

Carter Swift: Men’s 100m Freestyle 

Zoe Pedersen: Women’s 50m Freestyle & 100m Freestyle  

Caitlin Deans: Women’s 400m Freestyle & 800m Freestyle 

Milana Tapper: Women’s 50m Freestyle & 200m Freestyle 

Eve Thomas: Women’s 400m Freestyle & 800m Freestyle