Savannah-Eve Martin qualified for her first Aquablack team in the 50m backstroke heats at the 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships, when she achieved the first A qualifying standard of her career.

Martin began learning to swim as her three older brothers were involved with North Shore, so her parents got her in the pool too. She originally learnt to swim for safety, before realising she enjoyed it and joined the club to start racing at the age of 8 years old.

Martin has been a strong sprint backstroker through her age group years, winning her first national age title at the 2022 Apollo Projects NZ Short Course Swimming Championships. Since then, she has continued her development and been on the top step of the age podium in the 50m backstroke. As an 18-year-old, she broke the long and short course NZ record in the 50m backstroke.

Her transfer to Coast in early 2023 has seen her take further strides forward. In late 2024, the 18-year-old was selected to represent New Zealand for the first time at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Budapest. She produced a personal best and NZ age record during her first appearance on the international stage.

She continued her strong form into 2025, where she achieved the A qualifying standard to be selected for her first Aquablack team in Singapore.

Martin has always loved swimming. She enjoys the process of setting goals and pushing herself to achieve them, and the opportunities it presents. Swimming has helped her develop strength both physically and mentally to get through the battles that come her way.

Outside of the pool, Martin graduated from Westlake Girls High School. She enjoys spending time with loved ones, bingeing a good TV show, being creative with design, dance or painting and getting outside in the sunshine. In her earlier years, Martin practiced ballroom and Latin dancing.

Favourite Quote: “Believe in yourself even when no one else does, then let them watch you prove them wrong!”