The New Zealand Olympic Committee together with Swimming New Zealand has named Lewis Clareburt to the swimming team for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Hailing from Wellington’s Capital Swim Club, Gold Coast will be the first Commonwealth Games for Clareburt who will contest the 400m Individual Medley.
The 18-year-old had a breakout 2017 which included winning eight gold medals at the New Zealand Age Group Championships where he also equaled Danyon Loader’s 25-year-old record in the 200m freestyle.
Clareburt also won three gold and four silver medals at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas and capped off the year by winning Junior Sportsman of the year at the Aotearoa Māori Sports Awards.
Above: Clareburt with his Commonwealth Youth Games medals
“I am really excited to be representing New Zealand at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. I’ve been training really hard all summer as if I was going to the games, so I’m relieved that it’s paid off. I’m pumped to get over to the Gold Coast and race.”
Swimming New Zealand CEO Steve Johns is delighted to have another swimmer added to the team.
“Lewis has demonstrated the ability to perform with distinction at the Games and deserves the opportunity to represent New Zealand at this pinnacle event.”
“Lewis joins a strong New Zealand team and we look forward to seeing them all compete on the Gold Coast in April.”
NZOC CEO Kereyn Smith extended her congratulations to Clareburt.
"Lewis is a very exciting young talent and has benefited from the performance pathway provided by the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2017. We are excited to have Lewis in the team and can't wait to watch him compete."
Clareburt was selected as part of the final round of individual athlete allocation quotas.
The addition brings the number of swimming representatives in the New Zealand Commonwealth Games team to 13.
The naming takes the total number of athletes selected to the New Zealand Commonwealth Games team to 115.