12-Strong New Zealand Team Primed for World Virtus Champs in Thailand

Competition Preview of the 2025 World Virtus Swimming Championships

Twelve New Zealand swimmers are ready to take on the 2025 World Virtus Swimming Championships, with competition getting underway in Bangkok, Thailand, from 24 – 29 August.

The championships are the global pathway link for them, where our top S14, S18 and S19 classified swimmers will race in the respective II1, II2 and II3 classification. The championships this year are the second highest level they can compete, with the Virtus Global Games the pinnacle for this pathway.

The significant growth in New Zealand in the S18 and S19 classifications is reflected strongly in this team, with increased numbers in recent years since the introduction of these classifications in 2023.

Current World Record holders Ian Chen (St Paul’s) and Chloe Gladwin (Whakatane) are both making their pinnacle international debut, coming into the championships after each breaking two World Records at the 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships earlier this year. NZ Record holder Quinn Pike (Hamilton Aquatics) and Jole Watkins (Pukekohe) are the other two swimmers on the team who will get their first taste of pinnacle international competition in Thailand.

The team will draw upon the experience within the group, with eight swimmers having previously raced at a major competition. David Beck (Club 37), James Haydon (Club 37) and Jack Bugler (Blenheim) have each been on multiple teams. Finn Russ (Selwyn), Tate Pichon (Club 37), Bailey Conlon (Swim Rotorua), Joseph Blake (Hamilton Aquatics) and Lance Dustow (Central Hawke’s Bay) are the other swimmers who will know what to expect ahead of the championships.

The team is led by the experienced Glen Findlay (Nelson South) as Head Coach, supported by Mason Pickering (Whakatane) as Assistant Coach and Jules Gladwin (Whakatane) as the Team Manager.

Findlay believes the team is set for a great week in Thailand.

Findlay also noted the team is prepared for solid competition from around the world.

The competition begins on Sunday 24 August with heats from 1.30pm NZST and finals from 9pm NZST later that evening. Finals will be viable for individual events that are 50m, 100m and 200m distances in the evening session per gender and classification. Events for 400m, 800m and 1500m distances will be raced as timed finals.

You can stay up-to-date with the action by following our social media channels for updates and our website for day wraps of the action.

You can watch the livestream via the link below.

We have provided an overview of the action taking place each day in the daily schedule below. We have also listed the entries for each athlete and the team selected to ensure you know everything ahead of the six days of competition in Thailand.

Daily Schedule

*Start times are subject to change, while finals are subject to athlete progression

Sunday 24 August

Day One Heats – from 1.30pm NZST

• Men’s 400m freestyle II1 timed final (Bugler, Beck & Conlon)

• Men’s 400m freestyle II2 timed final (Blake)

• Men’s 400m freestyle II3 timed final (Pichon)

• Women’s 400m freestyle II3 timed final (Gladwin & Pike)

• Men’s 100m backstroke II1 (Beck)

• Men’s 100m backstroke II3 (Dustow & Watkins)

• Women’s 100m backstroke II3 (Gladwin)

• Men’s 50m breaststroke II1 (Haydon & Conlon)

• Men’s 50m breaststroke II2 (Blake)

• Men’s 50m breaststroke II3 (Chen & Pichon)

• Women’s 50m breaststroke II3 (Pike)

Day One Finals (Potential) – from 9pm NZST

• Men’s 100m backstroke II1 final (Beck*)

• Men’s 100m backstroke II3 final (Dustow* & Watkins*)

• Women’s 100m backstroke II3 final (Gladwin*)

• Men’s 50m breaststroke II1 final (Haydon* & Conlon*)

• Men’s 50m breaststroke II2 final (Blake*)

• Men’s 50m breaststroke II3 final (Chen* & Pichon*)

• Women’s 50m breaststroke II3 final (Pike*)

Monday 25 August

Day Two Heats – from 1.30pm NZST

• Men’s 200m freestyle II1 (Beck, Bugler & Conlon)

• Men’s 200m freestyle II3 (Pichon & Russ)

• Women’s 200m freestyle II3 (Gladwin)

• Men’s 50m butterfly II3 (Dustow, Russ & Watkins)

• Men’s 200m individual medley II1 (Haydon)

• Men’s 200m individual medley II2 (Blake)

• Men’s 200m individual medley II3 (Chen & Watkins)

• Women’s 200m individual medley II3 (Gladwin & Pike)

• Men’s 4 x 50m freestyle relay II1 (Beck, Bugler, Conlon & Haydon)

• Men’s 4 x 50m freestyle relay II3

Day Two Finals (Potential) – from 9pm NZST

• Men’s 200m freestyle II1 final (Beck*, Bugler* & Conlon*)

• Men’s 200m freestyle II3 final (Pichon* & Russ*)

• Women’s 200m freestyle II3 final (Gladwin*)

• Men’s 50m butterfly II3 final (Dustow*, Russ* & Watkins*)

• Men’s 200m individual medley II1 final (Haydon*)

• Men’s 200m individual medley II2 final (Blake*)

• Men’s 200m individual medley II3 final (Chen* & Watkins*)

• Women’s 200m individual medley II3 final (Gladwin* & Pike*)

• Men’s 4 x 50m freestyle relay II1 final (Beck*, Bugler*, Conlon* & Haydon*)

• Men’s 4 x 50m freestyle relay II3 final*

Tuesday 26 August

Day Three Heats – from 1.30pm NZST

• Men’s 1500m freestyle II3 timed final (Pichon)

• Women’s 1500m freestyle II3 timed final (Gladwin)

• Men’s 100m breaststroke II1 (Beck, Conlon & Haydon)

• Men’s 100m breaststroke II2 (Blake)

• Men’s 100m breaststroke II3 (Chen & Pichon)

• Women’s 100m breaststroke II3 (Pike)

• Men’s 50m backstroke II1 (Beck)

• Men’s 50m backstroke II3 (Dustow & Watkins)

• Women’s 50m backstroke II3 (Gladwin)

• Men’s 4 x 50m medley II1 (Beck, Bugler, Conlon & Haydon)

Day Three Finals – from 9pm NZST

• Men’s 100m breaststroke II1 final (Conlon* & Haydon*)

• Men’s 100m breaststroke II2 final (Blake*)

• Men’s 100m breaststroke II3 final (Chen* & Pichon*)

• Women’s 100m breaststroke II3 final (Pike*)

• Men’s 50m backstroke II1 final (Beck*)

• Men’s 50m backstroke II3 final (Dustow* & Watkins*)

• Women’s 50m backstroke II3 final (Gladwin*)

• Men’s 4 x 50m medley II1 final (Beck*, Bugler*, Conlon* & Haydon*)

Wednesday 27 August

Day Four Heats – from 1.30pm NZST

• Men’s 100m freestyle II1 (Beck, Bugler & Haydon)

• Men’s 100m freestyle II2 (Blake)

• Men’s 100m freestyle II3 (Russ)

• Women’s 100m freestyle II3 (Pike)

• Men’s 400m individual medley II3 timed final (Chen)

• Women’s 400m individual medley II3 timed final (Gladwin)

• Men’s 4 x 200m freestyle II1 (Beck, Bugler, Conlon & Haydon)

• Men’s 4 x 200m freestyle II3

Day Four Finals (Potential) – from 9pm NZST

• Men’s 100m freestyle II1 final (Beck*, Bugler* & Haydon*)

• Men’s 100m freestyle II2 final (Blake*)

• Men’s 100m freestyle II3 final (Russ*)

• Women’s 100m freestyle II3 final (Pike*)

• Men’s 4 x 200m freestyle II1 final (Beck*, Bugler*, Conlon* & Haydon*)

• Men’s 4 x 200m freestyle II3 final*

Thursday 28 August

Day Five Heats – from 1.30pm NZST

• Men’s 800m freestyle II1 timed final (Conlon & Bugler)

• Men’s 800m freestyle II3 timed final (Pichon)

• Women’s 800m freestyle II3 timed final (Gladwin)

• Men’s 200m backstroke II3 (Dustow & Watkins)

• Women’s 200m backstroke II3 (Gladwin)

• Men’s 100m butterfly II1 (Beck)

• Men’s 100m butterfly II3 (Dustow & Watkins)

• Women’s 100m butterfly II3 (Gladwin & Pike)

Day Five Finals (Potential) – from 9pm NZST

• Men’s 200m backstroke II3 final (Dustow* & Watkins*)

• Women’s 200m backstroke II3 final (Gladwin*)

• Men’s 100m butterfly II1 final (Beck*)

• Men’s 100m butterfly II3 final (Dustow* & Watkins*)

• Women’s 100m butterfly II3 final (Gladwin* & Pike*)

Friday 29 August

Day Six Heats – from 1.30pm NZST

• Men’s 50m freestyle II1 (Beck)

• Men’s 50m freestyle II2 (Blake)

• Men’s 50m freestyle II3 (Russ & Watkins)

• Women’s 50m freestyle II3 (Gladwin & Pike)

• Men’s 200m breaststroke II1 (Conlon & Haydon)

• Men’s 200m breaststroke II2 (Blake)

• Men’s 200m breaststroke II3 (Chen)

• Mixed 4 x 100m freestyle relay II3

Day Six Finals (Potential) – from 9pm NZST

• Men’s 50m freestyle II1 final (Beck*)

• Men’s 50m freestyle II2 final (Blake*)

• Men’s 50m freestyle II3 final (Russ* & Watkins*)

• Women’s 50m freestyle II3 final (Gladwin* & Pike*)

• Men’s 200m breaststroke II1 final (Conlon* & Haydon*)

• Men’s 200m breaststroke II2 final (Blake*)

• Men’s 200m breaststroke II3 final (Chen*)

• Mixed 4 x 100m freestyle relay II3 final*

Swimmer Entries

David Beck (Club 37 – II1 Classification)

• Men’s 400m freestyle II1 (entry time: 4:51.63)

• Men’s 100m backstroke II1 (entry time: 1:10.67)

• Men’s 200m freestyle II1 (entry time: 2:16.97)

• Men’s 4 x 50m freestyle relay II1

• Men's 100m breaststroke II1 (exhibition swim)

• Men’s 50m backstroke II1 (entry time: 33.74)

• Men’s 4 x 50m medley relay II1

• Men’s 100m freestyle II1 (entry time: 1:01.42)

• Men’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay II1

• Men’s 100m butterfly (entry time: 1:08.52)

• Men’s 50m freestyle (entry time: 28.47)

Jack Bugler (Blenheim – II1 Classification)

• Men’s 400m freestyle II1 (entry time: 4:41.55)

• Men’s 200m freestyle II1 (entry time: 2:09.52)

• Men’s 4 x 50m freestyle relay II1

• Men’s 4 x 50m medley relay II1

• Men’s 100m freestyle II1 (entry time: 1:00.31)

• Men’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay II1

• Men’s 800m freestyle II1 (entry time: 9:54.46)

Joseph Blake (Hamilton Aquatics – II2 Classification)

• Men’s 400m freestyle II2 (entry time: 7:02.20)

• Men’s 50m breaststroke II2 (entry time: 47.02)

• Men’s 200m individual medley II2 (entry time: 3:42.87)

• Men’s 100m breaststroke II2 (entry time: 1:48.67)

• Men’s 100m freestyle II2 (entry time: 1:26.68)

• Men’s 50m freestyle II2 (entry time: 36.92)

• Men’s 200m breaststroke II2 (entry time: 4:57.27)

Ian Chen (St Paul’s – II3 Classification)

• Men’s 50m breaststroke II3 (entry time: 32.99)

• Men’s 200m individual medley II3 (entry time: 2:25.75)

• Men’s 100m breaststroke II3 (entry time: 1:13.60)

• Men’s 400m individual medley II3 (entry time: 5:09.99)

• Men’s 200m breaststroke II3 (entry time: 2:40.80)

Bailey Conlon (Swim Rotorua – II1 Classification)

• Men’s 400m freestyle II1 (entry time: 4:53.33)

• Men’s 50m breaststroke II1 (entry time: 38.97)

• Men’s 200m freestyle II1 (entry time: 2:16.51)

• Men’s 4 x 50m freestyle relay II1

• Men’s 100m breaststroke II1 (entry time: 1:24.95)

• Men’s 4 x 50m medley relay II1

• Men’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay II1

• Men’s 800m freestyle II1 (entry time: 9:56.61)

• Men’s 200m breaststroke II1 (entry time: 3:14.24)

Lance Dustow (Central Hawke’s Bay – II3 Classification)

• Men’s 100m backstroke II3 (entry time: 1:15.77)

• Men’s 50m butterfly II3 (entry time: 32.77)

• Men’s 50m backstroke II3 (entry time: 34.41)

• Men’s 200m backstroke II3 (entry time: 2:46.97)

• Men’s 100m butterfly II3

Chloe Gladwin (Whakatane – II3 Classification)

• Women’s 400m freestyle II3 (entry time: 4:54.32)

• Women’s 100m backstroke II3 (entry time: 1:18.41)

• Women’s 200m freestyle II3 (entry time: 2:23.82)

• Women’s 200m individual medley II3 (entry time: 2:46.37)

• Women’s 1500m freestyle II3 (entry time: 19:16.98)

• Women’s 50m backstroke II3 (entry time: 37.71)

• Women’s 400m individual medley II3 (entry time: 5:49.02)

• Women’s 800m freestyle II3 (entry time: 10:14.79)

• Women’s 200m backstroke II3 (entry time: 2:52.06)

• Women’s 100m butterfly II3 (entry time: 1:18.61)

• Women’s 50m freestyle II3 (entry time: 31.55)

• Mixed 4 x 100m freestyle relay II3

James Haydon (Club 37 – II1 Classification)

• Men’s 50m breaststroke II1 (entry time: 33.88)

• Men’s 200m individual medley II1 (entry time: 2:45.26)

• Men’s 4 x 50m freestyle relay II1

• Men’s 100m breaststroke II1 (entry time: 1:15.48)

• Men’s 4 x 50m medley relay II1

• Men’s 100m freestyle II1 (entry time: 1:01.44)

• Men’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay II1

• Men’s 200m breaststroke II1 (entry time: 2:55.93)

Tate Pichon (Club 37 – II3 Classification)

• Men’s 400m freestyle II3 (entry time: 5:04.55)

• Men’s 50m breaststroke II3 (entry time: 42.33)

• Men’s 200m freestyle II3 (entry time: 2:25.49)

• Men’s 1500m freestyle II3 (entry time: 19:56.84)

• Men’s 100m breaststroke II3 (entry time: 1:34.39)

• Men’s 800m freestyle II3 (entry time: 9:58.27)

Quinn Pike (Hamilton Aquatics – II3 Classification)

• Women’s 400m freestyle II3 (entry time: 4:57.00)

• Women’s 50m breaststroke II3 (entry time: 41.80)

• Women’s 200m individual medley II3 (entry time: 2:46.67)

• Women’s 100m breaststroke II3 (entry time: 1:32.30)

• Women’s 100m freestyle II3 (entry time: 1:04.83)

• Women’s 100m butterfly II3 (entry time: 1:19.98)

• Women’s 50m freestyle II3 (entry time: 30.08)

• Mixed 4 x 100m freestyle relay II3

Finn Russ (Selwyn – II3 Classification)

• Men’s 200m freestyle II3 (entry time: 2:11.18)

• Men’s 50m butterfly II3 (entry time: 28.64)

• Men’s 100m freestyle II3 (entry time: 59.15)

• Men’s 50m freestyle II3 (entry time: 26.73)

Jole Watkins (Pukekohe – II3 Classification)

• Men’s 100m backstroke II3 (entry time: 1:12.10)

• Men’s 50m butterfly II3 (entry time: 29.23)

• Men’s 200m individual medley II3 (entry time: 2:37.56)

• Men’s 50m backstroke II3 (entry time: 32.92)

• Men’s 200m backstroke II3 (entry time: 2:36.72)

• Men’s 100m butterfly II3 (entry time: 1:06.73)

• Men’s 50m freestyle II3 (entry time: 27.00)

Team Selected

The swimmers selected to represent New Zealand:

The coaches and support staff selected to guide our New Zealand are: