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The 17-year-old has been selected for the New Zealand Team for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, where he will compete in the Men’s 200m Backstroke.
“I feel nervous because I'm representing my country and there's a lot of expectations that come with representing the fern but I’m also very excited,” said Muchirahondo.
Muchirahondo’s journey in the water began when he was just two years old, when his mum took him to the pool for water safety. Growing up in Rotorua, surrounded by lakes, she wanted to make sure he was comfortable around water.
By the time he was eight, he’d caught the attention of coaches in Rotorua, who encouraged him to take swimming more seriously.
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From there, the goals started getting bigger. First, it was breaking Bay of Plenty records. Then national records. Eventually, he qualified for his first international event, the Junior World Championships.
The experience showed Muchirahondo just how high the level of competition was around the world.
“It was eye-opening to see how many other swimmers my age were out representing their countries,” he said.
Rather than being intimidated, Muchirahondo came away hungry to improve.
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This year, he has embraced new training environments, attending training camps alongside swimmers from other clubs. The sessions were, in his words, “brutal”, but worth it for his growth.
Alongside his full-on swimming schedule, Muchirahondo is balancing school and travel.
“It’s pretty tough,” he admits.
However, watching his mum work hard and support him throughout his swimming journey has shaped his own approach to balancing sport and school.
"My mum. She inspires me."
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Born in New Zealand, Ariel’s family roots trace back to Zimbabwe, where his family totem (clan identifier) is the hippo - an important part of his family’s heritage and identity.
However, in the pool, he looks to New Zealand’s leading swimmers for inspiration.
Since 2020, Muchirahondo has watched athletes such as Lewis Clareburt and Erika Fairweather compete at Olympic Games, reach finals and challenge for medals.
“Even in New Zealand, which is a small population, small country, it is possible to get to that top level.”
“Setting lots of goals and making sure they’re achievable, obviously dreaming big because that’s what everyone says, that’s what I love and what keeps me swimming.”
And there is one particularly big dream sitting quietly in the background.
Los Angeles 2028.
But for now, Dakar is the next step.
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