[As published in March/April BayBuzz magazine.]
New Zealand’s best swimmers, such as new world champions Lewis Clareburt and Erika Fairweather, are coming to Hawke’s Bay.
The 2024 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships – at the Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre from Tuesday 9 to Saturday 13 April – will be the last chance for New Zealand’s top swimmers to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics.
Swimming NZ’s Head of Participation & Events, Dale Johnson says our Kiwi swimmers will be hoping to “unlock their greatness” across five days of fast racing, and they are calling on the support of the local Hawke’s Bay crowd to help them do so.
“We are looking forward to hosting our biggest event in a 4-year cycle in Hawke’s Bay for the first time. Off the back of our most successful World Aquatics Championships in history and a strong Para Swimming World Championships last year, it’s an exciting year for the sport as we lead up to Paris.”
There are must-watch races to see each day, with heats being held in the morning from 10am and finals held in the evening with racing starting at 5.40pm.
This is the first time that swimming has held the Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships and NZ team selection trials for a pinnacle international meet in Hawke’s Bay, with this being a major milestone for the region since opening the Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre over the past couple of years.
Dale says that it’s a great opportunity for Hawke’s Bay locals to watch top swimmers in action as they qualify for Paris.
“We encourage all locals to get behind this event and come to watch. The best way to watch the action is from the grandstand and our swimmers will benefit from the cheering and atmosphere that comes from a big event.
“With world-class athletes such as Erika Fairweather, Lewis Clareburt and Cameron Leslie competing, and Hawke’s Bay local Emma Godwin hoping to qualify for Paris, it’s an opportunity you don’t want to miss.”
In addition to watching New Zealand’s top swimmers performing in the pool, Swimming NZ and Swimming Hawke’s Bay Poverty Bay are offering an array of activities and initiatives to benefit the local community.
“We are committed to offering opportunities for the community to get involved in the water during the championships to help them Unlock Their Greatness. From Have-a-Go meets and skills clinics to signing sessions with our Aquablacks and aqua aerobics classes for all ages, there is something to help the community be engaged and enjoy the water.”
Erika Fairweather and Lewis Clareburt will be in action across the week as they fine tune their preparations for Paris. With the duo having been finalists at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, they will be hoping to take the next step and would be buoyed by their performances in an Olympic year to become World Champions in the Women’s 400m Freestyle and Men’s 400m Individual Medley respectively.
Reigning World Champion and 3-time Paralympic Champion Cameron Leslie will be hoping to qualify for his fourth Paralympic Games as he takes to the pool in the Men’s 50m Freestyle Multi-Class and Men’s 100m Freestyle Multi-Class.
Hawke’s Bay local Emma Godwin will be aiming to qualify for her first Olympic Games and pinnacle New Zealand team as she takes on the Women’s 200m Backstroke on Friday 12 April.
Must-watch races across the week:
Day 1 – Tuesday 9 April
• Men’s 400m Individual Medley (World Champion Lewis Clareburt)
• Women’s 1500m Freestyle (Eve Thomas & Caitlin Deans)
• Women’s 100m Backstroke Multi-Class (Paralympic Champion Tupou Neiufi)
• Men’s 100m Backstroke Multi-Class (Comm Games Silver Medallist Jesse Reynolds)
• Men’s 100m Breaststroke Multi-Class (Comm Games Gold Medallist Josh Willmer)
Day 2 – Wednesday 10 April
• Women’s 200m Freestyle (World Champs Silver Medallist Erika Fairweather and 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay spots)
• Men’s 100m Backstroke (World Champs Semi Finalist Andrew Jeffcoat)
• Women’s 100m Backstroke (Rio Olympian Helena Gasson)
• Women’s 100m Breaststroke (World Juniors Silver Medallist Monique Wieruszowski)
Day 3 – Thursday 11 April
• Women’s 400m Freestyle (World Champion Erika Fairweather & World Champs Finalist Eve Thomas)
• Men’s 400m Freestyle (Tokyo Olympian Zac Reid)
• Men’s 100m Butterfly (Cameron Gray)
Day 4 – Friday 12 April
• Men’s 100m Freestyle (NZ Record Holder Cameron Gray & Carter Swift)
• Men’s 100m Freestyle Multi-Class (World Champs Silver Medallist Cameron Leslie)
• Women’s 200m Backstroke (Hawke’s Bay local Emma Godwin)
• Men’s 200m Butterfly (World Champs Finalist Lewis Clareburt)
Day 5 – Saturday 13 April
• Women’s 800m Freestyle (World Champs Bronze Medallist Erika Fairweather & World Champs Finalist Eve Thomas)
• Men’s 200m Individual Medley (World Champs Finalist Lewis Clareburt)
• Men’s 50m Freestyle (Michael Pickett, Cameron Gray & Carter Swift)
• Men’s 50m Freestyle Multi-Class (World Champs Silver Medallist Cameron Leslie)
• Women’s 50m Freestyle (Gaby Fa’amausili)
Three swimmers have achieved the qualifying standard for the Olympic team at the recently completed 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, where New Zealand won its first two gold medals ever at the level. Fairweather and Clareburt for their gold medal winning performances, as well as Eve Thomas for her performances in reaching three World Champs finals in Doha.
The 2024 Apollo Projects NZ Age Group Swimming Championships will be held the following week for the second year in a row at the Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre, for our top 13 – 18-year-old swimmers from across the country. It’s great for the local community to be hosting these national events.
Don’t miss this opportunity to bring your family along and be there to help our top swimmers qualify for Paris. Tickets are now on sale via the Swimming NZ website under the events dropdown banner.