11-Strong NZ Team Named for Beijing World Short Course Champs

New Zealand Team for the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m)

The New Zealand team for the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m), to be held in Beijing, China, from 1-6 December, has been named, with returning medallist Erika Fairweather headlining the 11-strong squad, alongside Lewis Clareburt and Caitlin Deans.

Erika Fairweather (North Shore) returns to the championships for the first time since 2022, when she was a two-time silver medallist. She brings significant experience to the team, having won three medals at the Pan Pacific Championships and five medals at the Commonwealth Games this year.

The championships also return to China for the first time since 2018, and for Caitlin Deans (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) it is a full-circle moment. As a 19-year-old, she was among the New Zealand team at the 2018 edition of the 'Short Course Worlds' and is the only member of this year’s team who also raced there. Eight years on, she returns as an Aquablack, Olympic finalist, and Commonwealth Games medallist.

Her selection comes off the back of her strongest World Cup series to date. Deans medalled at every stop, collecting five medals across Baku, Tashkent and Astana, including silver in the 800m freestyle in Baku and silver in the 1500m freestyle in Astana.

Lewis Clareburt (United & Nunawading) also earns selection following a strong World Cup series, setting two national records in Baku and coming within 0.3 seconds of Danyon Loader’s open national record in the 400m freestyle in Astana.

The team includes Milana Tapper (St Peter’s & Griffith Uni), who was part of the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay alongside Deans and Fairweather that won bronze at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year. Tapper earned her place after a strong performance at the New Zealand Short Course Championships in Christchurch, and is joined on the team by her sister Alyssa (St Peter’s & Griffith Uni), who was also a standout performer at the meet.

Fellow Commonwealth Games team members Cameron Gray (United) and Carter Swift (United & Griffith Uni) have also been named, while Zac Dell (United & Brisbane Grammar) returns for his second New Zealand team of the year, having represented the country at the Pan Pacific Championships.

Jasper Cornish (Coast), Kevin Zhang (Roskill) and 18-year-old Fraser Walker (United) have been named to their first senior international campaigns, rounding out a team that blends experience with emerging talent.

Swimming New Zealand's Olympic Head Coach Graham Hill will lead the team as Head Coach, with Mitch Nairn (United) to support at Assistant Coach.

The World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) will be held from 1 - 6 December 2026 in Beijing, China.

Congratulations to each of the swimmers, their coaches and support teams on their selection. Good luck with your preparations in the lead-up to the championships.

2026 World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) – New Zealand Team

Swimmers

Congratulations to the swimmers selected to this team:

Coaching / Management Team

Congratulations to those selected to travel with and guide the team.