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An 13-strong swimming squad has been named to represent the New Zealand Team at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, headlined by 2024 world champions Erika Fairweather and Lewis Clareburt.
The team showcases the depth and growth of talent in New Zealand swimming, with five athletes named for their first Commonwealth Games.
The athletes were selected off the back of outstanding performances during the qualification window, including at the New Zealand Swimming Championships in Auckland last month where Fairweather broke her own national record in the 200m Freestyle with a time of 1:55.06.
It will be a busy Games for Fairweather who has been named across four individual events; the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m Freestyle, as well as taking on relay duties in both 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," said 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 join Fairweather in the 4x200m Women's Freestyle Relay, while 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 events, while Edwards, Tapper, Gray and Swift each line up across combinations of the 200m, 100m and 50m Freestyle and Butterfly.
Meanwhile, Medley specialist Clareburt is set to compete in four events after leading a standout swimming campaign at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games where he won gold in the 400m Individual Medley - a Commonwealth record time.
He also topped the podium in the 200m Butterfly and won bronze in the 200m Individual Medley. He will contest those events again in Glasgow, adding the 200m Freestyle after smashing the New Zealand record earlier this year.
Another Birmingham 2022 champion who’s back in the mix at Glasgow 2026 is Para swimmer Josh Willmer.
The 21-year-old won gold in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB8 at Birmingham 2022 and will compete up a classification at Glasgow 2026, taking on 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 fine form, currently ranked in the top eight in the world across the 50m distance this season.
Junior World Champion, Zoe Pedersen, joins Ouwehand in the 50m Butterfly. At just 19-years-old, Pedersen will also contest the 50m and 100m Freestyle.
Swimming New Zealand Head Coach – Olympic Pathway, Graham Hill, said the team is building well ahead of their Glasgow 2026 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,” said 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,” said Nicol.
“At any Games, the swimming events are always keenly followed and the competitiveness and standards will again be high. We know you will all represent New Zealand well and wear the fern with pride. “
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
Amber George: Women’s 50m Backstroke
Savannah-Eve Martin: Women’s 50m Backstroke
The following athletes have also been successfully granted permission to start in the following events at 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
Amber George: Women’s 100m Backstroke
Savannah-Eve Martin: Women’s 100m Backstroke