Finn Harland will make his Aquablack debut in Singapore, having previously represented New Zealand at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawai’i and the 2023 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Israel.

His swimming journey began in Wellington and developed through the years. He learned to swim at Kilbirnie and whilst he enjoyed some success as an age group swimmer, it’s the people he has met, the friends he's made and the places he has travelled to that he cherishes the most about his swimming journey.

The sprint backstroke swimmer impressed in his late teens, breaking the NZ age record in the 50m backstroke for 16 years, 17 years and 18 years. He has carried this form through into the senior ranks, claiming his first national title in 2024 at the trials for Paris. Since then, he has lowered his personal best to qualify for his first senior team – the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore – in the 50m backstroke at the TYR Pro Series.

Harland is combining his swimming with education, studying economics at Stanford University. His qualifying for Singapore is his career highlight so far, but he fondly remembers being part of the winning 4 x 100m freestyle relay team for Capital at the 2022 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships.

Favourite Quote: “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough” – Mae West