Tupou Neiufi's journey with swimming began around the age of eight years old, when she learnt to swim to assist her rehabilitation after being hit by a speeding car as a child. Neiufi instantly fell in love with the water, as she felt that she could move freely without worrying about injuring herself.

At age 10, Neiufi began swimming competitively with Mangere Swim Club. She was identified by Paralympics New Zealand and later joined High Performance Sport NZ’s ‘Pathway to Podium’ programme. During this time, she transferred to Howick Pakuranga where she formed a bond with coach Sheldon Kemp.

2016 was a big year for the 15-year-old, making her first international team when selected for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Neiufi, initially a reserve for the team, was a late call up to the Games after a fellow team member had to withdraw due to illness and injury. Making the most of the opportunity to perform on the world's biggest stage, Neiufi progressed through to the final of the S9 100m Freestyle where she finished seventh.

Neiufi made her Commonwealth Games and Aquablack debut at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, placing sixth in the S9 100m backstroke. Ahead of competing at her first Para Swimming World Championships, Neiufi was re-classified to S8/SB8/SM8.

2019 saw Neiufi break the world record in the S8 50m backstroke and win her first major international medal when she claimed silver in the S8 100m backstroke at the Para Swimming World Championships in London.

Ahead of the Tokyo Paralympic Games, Neiufi followed her coach Sheldon Kemp to Pukekohe Swimming Club in mid-2020. Competing at her second Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Neiufi captured New Zealand's first gold medal of the Games when she won the S8 100m backstroke. She also came fifth in the S8 50m freestyle, capping off her most successful international campaign.

At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, she won silver in the S8 100m backstroke. She followed this performance up by earning bronze at the 2023 Para Swimming World Championships in the S8 100m backstroke amongst a world class field. 

At just 23 years old, the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games marked Neiufi's third Games campaign. In Paris, Neiufi placed ninth in the S8 100m backstroke, missing out on the final by the slimmest of margins. She also placed tenth in the S8 50m freestyle.

Following the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Neiufi shifted to Mt Eden Swimming to work with Don McKenna.

Neiufi lives by the motto “believe in yourself”, which highlights the importance being authentically and unapologetically you.

Interestingly, Neiufi doesn’t particularly like the smell of chlorine or getting wet, perhaps one of the many reasons for her speed each time she enters the water.

Senior pinnacle international medal record

Paralympic Games – 1 x gold

World Para Swimming Championships  – 1 x silver, 1 x bronze

Commonwealth Games – 1 x silver