The New Zealand Olympic Committee has named Gina Galloway, Erika Fairweather, Zac Reid and Michael Pickett to represent New Zealand at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games.
Galloway (17 years, Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland) is the granddaughter of Ngaire Galloway, who at 93 years old, is New Zealand’s oldest living Olympian.
Above: Ngaire Galloway at the London 1948 Olympic Games
“Growing up listening to her stories from her experiences and trips in swimming and the friends she's made through the sport all over the world has been really inspiring for me,” said Gina Galloway.
It is no coincidence that Galloway is a backstroke specialist, with Galloway senior competing in the women’s 100m backstroke at the 1948 London Olympic Games. She finished 11th overall and was the only woman in the New Zealand team.
Above: Gina Galloway competing
Galloway won a bronze medal at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games and will compete in the women’s 50m, 100m, 200m backstroke and 100m butterfly events.
Otago’s Erika Fairweather (14 years, Kavanagh College) will likely be one of the youngest athletes, if not the youngest athlete, competing at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games as her birthday (31/12/2003) is the cut off date for eligible athletes.
The last twelve months has been a breakout year for Fairweather who now holds 12 national age-group records, including the girls 14 years 200m and 400m freestyle short course records set last weekend at the Otago Winter Championships.
“It feels pretty unreal and I am very honored that I get this opportunity to represent my country at this level,” Fairweather said.
Fairweather will compete in the women’s 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle events.
Above: Erika Fairweather
Zac Reid (18 years, Massey University) who was a double gold medalist from the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games will compete in the men’s 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle events.
The Taranaki swimmer won his first New Zealand Open Championship last month by beating Gold Coast Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Lewis Clareburt in the men’s 400m freestyle final. Reid went on to also win the 200m, 800m and 1500m New Zealand titles.
“I made this a goal a year ago and now being selected is an amazing feeling as I have put a lot of work and dedication in trying to gain selection,” says Reid.
Above: Zac Reid
The fastest 15-year-old freestyle sprinter in Australasia rounds out the New Zealand swimming team with Michael Pickett (15 years, St Peters Lutheran College) lining up in the men’s 50m and 100m freestyle events.
Earlier this year Pickett relocated to Brisbane to train at one of Australia’s most prestigious clubs, St Peter’s Western. Under the guidance of Kiwi coach John Gatfield, Pickett has improved steadily.
In April, Pickett blitzed the field to win the boys’ 15 years 50m freestyle at the Australian age-group championships.
Just last month Pickett finished second at the New Zealand Opens Championships in the men’s 50m and 100m freestyle to book his ticket to Buenos Aires.
“This selection is awesome news and gives me real confidence for my future. The competition's going to be a great stepping stone for the end goal of competing at an Olympic Games,” said Pickett.
The 15-year-old also highlighted his specific targets for the Youth Olympic Games.
“To qualify for the final, I want to go under 50 seconds for the first time in the 100m and get into 22 seconds for the 50m.”
New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Kereyn Smith passed on her congratulations to the athletes.
“Well done to all these athletes for all the hard work they’ve put in to reach this point. We look forward to seeing you represent New Zealand with pride and honour in Buenos Aires in October.”
Swimming New Zealand Targeted Athlete and Coach Manager Gary Francis is excited for the athletes who have gained selection.
“Congratulations to Gina, Erika, Zac and Michael. The Youth Olympic Games is a unique experience and this is an excellent opportunity for the athletes to see and feel what a games environment really is combined with the pressures of performing against the highest level of junior competition,” said Francis.
New Zealand qualified two female and two male athlete places for the Youth Olympic Games and the selected athletes were chosen from a total of seventeen athletes who achieved the minimum qualification standard for the games.
New Zealand won two bronze medals in swimming at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games to Gabrielle Fa’amausili (50m backstroke) and Bobbi Gichard (100m backstroke).
The Youth Olympic Games will run from October 6-18th in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
