Dunedin’s Erika Fairweather has become New Zealand’s latest World Champion, winning the 400m freestyle final in Doha this morning (NZT).
The 20-year-old was all class at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships, leading the final from start to finish, to touch the wall in a P.B. and New Zealand Record time of 3:59.44s and claim the World Championship title.
It is New Zealand’s first ever gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships and Fairweather celebrated with a fist pump as she saw the result.
“I’m so excited,” said Fairweather.
“How crazy was that. I’m so stoked with that time. I’m so happy with where I am right now and I’m so excited for what’s to come.”
Fairweather came out strong in the final and looked a cut above the rest of the field from the outset. She had a lead of 1.65s lead at halfway and finished 2.18s ahead of her closest rival for an emphatic victory.
China’s Bingjie Li took silver and Germany’s Isabel Gose bronze. New Zealand’s Eve Thomas also made the final, finishing seventh in 4:05.87s.
Fairweather had earlier breezed through her heat in 4:04.70s, with the time also qualifying her for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to be held in July and August this year. Thomas also swam under the Paris qualifying time in her heat.
The Dunedin swimmer will also compete in the 200m and 800m freestyle, as well as the 4x200m freestyle relay at the World Championships. It is the second World Championship medal for Fairweather who last year won bronze in the same event.
Fairweather is coached by Lars Humer.