Asher Smith-Franklin produced a career best performance at the 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships to achieve his first minimum qualifying standard in the 200m individual medley SM14. His reaction upon seeing his result demonstrated how much it means to him to make his first Aquablack team in Singapore.

Smith-Franklin was born on Auckland's North Shore, but grew up on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland where he was swimming daily. Whilst at Currimundi Special School, he started to swim with a special needs coach. His parents started to receive lots of messages that they couldn’t stop him – he loved being in the water and going fast. It was then he was encouraged to join the local swimming club, Kawana Waters, where his first coach was Marie Hasemann. In his early years he had the opportunity to be mentored by Australian Dolphin Liam Schluter, and this motivated him to be the best he could be.

Smith-Franklin and his family moved back to New Zealand in early 2022 and he joined the North Shore Swimming Club. He quickly set about doing what he loves – swimming as fast as possible. He broke his first NZ record in the 100m breaststroke SB14 at the 2022 Apollo Projects NZ Age Group Swimming Championships in Wellington.

By the time he was selected for his first Aquablack team in 2025, Smith-Franklin held every NZ open record in long and short course. He has won the Swimming NZ Domestic Para Swimmer of the Year for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024, signaling his development during his teenage years leading up to qualifying for the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore.

Smith-Franklin thrives on the sense of accomplishment after a training session. He loves the feeling of quiet and calm that comes from being underwater. He enjoys the friendships and the people he has met through swimming so far, and the opportunities that it has presented to travel to other countries and cultures.

Outside of the pool, Smith-Franklin enjoys cooking, sailing, camping, gardening and spending time with his cat.

Favourite Quote: “Don’t compare yourself with others. Just look at your own work to see if you have done anything to be proud.”