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Chen Crowned II3 World Champion & Pike Wins Bronze

Day Three Wrap of the 2025 World Virtus Swimming Championships


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More medals and records flowed on the third day of racing in Bangkok. Ian Chen (St Paul’s) claimed New Zealand’s first open gold medal of the 2025 World Virtus Swimming Championships in Thailand with a come-from-behind victory in the men’s 100m breaststroke II3 final. Quinn Pike (Hamilton Aquatics) also produced a stirring surge to win the overall bronze in the women’s event in a massive S19 New Zealand record. Chloe Gladwin (Whakatane) and Jole Watkins (Pukekohe) were the other two swimmers to grace the podium with youth medals.


During the morning session, Ian Chen swam from lane four of the ninth heat. He rose to the surface quickly from the dive and was locked in a battle with Juan Jose Monsalve Giraldo (Colombia) alongside him. The two led the field, with Giraldo half a body length ahead with 25m left. Chen rallied to pip him at the touch to win the heat (1:14.31). He qualified fastest for the evening final with his fourth fastest time in his career.


In the final, Chen made a good start from lane four to be up into his stroke quickly in trademark fashion. In a continuation of their battle in the morning session, Giraldo and Chen were side-by-side through the opening stages in the yellow centre lanes. They basically turned together at halfway, with Giraldo marginally ahead. Chen increased the stroke rate with 25m to swim and surged into the lead under the flags to take the gold medal (1:12.93). Alexander Hejaij (Australia – 1:13.28) pipped Giraldo (1:13.34) on the touch to round out the podium. Not only did Chen take the II3 World Champion title but he also swam a personal best in the final.


Chen was thrilled with the improvement he made from heat to final.

“I was just trying to keep my one second pause the whole race. Everything was going numb, but I just thought ‘come on, just hold it till the end!’”

Chen said it was a special feeling to be crowned World Champion in the event.

“It means a lot, especially when you have other swimmers from other places who are on par with you. I’ve now got one medal of each colour, you can’t ask much more than that!”

Quinn Pike (Hamilton Aquatics) featured in the evening session for the third consecutive day. She swam from lane six of the women’s 100m breaststroke II3 final. She had a good start to surface at the 10m. She formed part of a wall of swimmers battling for second at the 25m mark, with Kate Wallington (Australia – 1:20.88) already on her way to another II3 World Record and gold medal. Pike was in fourth at the turn, half a body length behind Grace Rider (Australia) in third. Pike started to close the gap in the first part of the lap, before she exploded in the final 25m to surge past to win the bronze medal overall in a massive personal best time (1:29.61) and smash the S19 New Zealand record (both open and age). Oddva Sedea Danndsottir Nattestad (Faroe Island – 1:24.52) won the silver to join Wallington and Pike on the podium. Pike also won the youth gold medal for her performance, ahead of Grace Rider (1:30.07) and Emma Chantry (Australia – 1:34.48).


Pike was spurred on during the second lap.

“I felt good going out. The second 50m I could hear the coach yell as I breathed and I felt myself closing in on the Australian.”

Jole Watkins (Pukekohe) qualified for another final at these championships in the men’s 50m backstroke II3. He swam from lane six of the seventh heat during the morning session, where the 16-year-old swam well to touch third in the heat (32.25) behind Alexander Hejaij (30.85) who broke the II3 World Record. Watkins qualified fifth fastest for the final with a big personal best.


In the final, Watkins swam from lane two. The start was delayed slightly with an issue to a backstroke ledge setting, but they were underway shortly after. Watkins had a solid underwater to be in the hunt with 15m to swim. He produced another personal best (32.13) to touch sixth overall. The 16-year-old won the youth silver behind Andres Alejandro Agudelo Rendon (Colombia – 31.81) and ahead of Alvin Landa (Israel – 32.62).


In the morning session, Chloe Gladwin (Whakatane) competed in the first of her two events of day three, where she raced the women’s 1500m freestyle II3 timed final from lane five of the faster timed final. She had a good start and got to work in the early stages to be equal fourth and then fifth through the 200m mark. Gladwin quickly found her pace with and was a model of consistency to have split 38 seconds per lap to the 750m (9:35.32 split). She maintained the consistency in the second half of the race with 38 to 39 second per lap splits before she stormed home in the final 50m. Gladwin (19:21.58) touched fifth on the wall with the second fastest time of her career, before results were separated into the respective classifications. Gladwin came fourth overall and won the gold medal in the youth category, her fourth medal in the 18 and under category already this week.


Later in the day, Chloe Gladwin competed in the women’s 50m backstroke II3 final. Raced as a straight final in the evening session, Gladwin started from lane six. The centre lanes got away to a flier, with Gladwin in the mid-pack through the early stages. She finished in finish fifth overall (37.57), achieving a personal best to break the S19 New Zealand record she set at the 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships in May.


Tate Pichon (Club 37) tackled the longest event of the championships, the men’s 1500m freestyle. He started from lane two of the first timed final of the morning session and surfaced ahead of the field to lead at the first turn. He gradually extended his lead throughout the race after he settled into a consistent rhythm early splitting with 41 to 42 second laps to halfway (10:25.18 split). He upped his pace marginally after the 750m to split regularly in the 40 to 41 seconds to negative split his race and win the timed final (20:47.73). His time was the third fastest of his career and saw him place eighth overall.


James Haydon (Club 37) was the pick of the men’s 100m breaststroke II1 swimmers. Haydon swam from the fourth heat in lane two and sent it early with a fast stroke rate. He turned in sixth at halfway and gave it everything on the return lap to finish sixth in the heat with the seventh best time in his career (1:17.81). This saw him place 15th overall. Bailey Conlon (Swim Rotorua) swam in the heat two earlier from lane four. He looked strong through the opening lap and moved his way through the field to turn fourth. He left it all in the pool as he finished to touch fifth on the wall with the sixth best time of his life (1:28.66) to place 31st overall. David Beck (Club 37) also swam the event as an exhibition but would have placed 35th overall (1:33.85).


Joseph Blake (Hamilton Aquatics) competed in the men’s 100m breaststroke II2 heats, where he produced a big personal best from lane one of the seventh heat (1:45.65) to break the S18 New Zealand record he set in 2024 and place 9th. Tate Pichon returned after the longest event on the programme for the men’s 100m breaststroke II3 heats. He swam in the same heat as Chen, where he produced a personal best to place 13th overall (1:31.95).


David Beck returned for the shortest event of the day, the men’s 50m backstroke II1. He swam from lane seven of heat three, where he came sixth in the heat to finish 16th overall. Lance Dustow (Central Hawke’s Bay) also raced in the same discipline in the II3 classification a few moments later. He swam alongside fellow Kiwi Watkins in the seventh heat, with Dustow in lane seven. He touched sixth in the heat (35.00) to place 10th overall.


The morning session concluded with the men’s 4 x 50m medley relay II1. The four swimmers were in relay form after they achieved two S14 New Zealand records on the previous day. David Beck executed a strong underwater from the start before he pushed ahead to lead at the end of the backstroke leg (32.19 split). James Haydon maintained a fast stroke rate in the breaststroke leg to hold on to the lead (34.62 split). Bailey Conlon worked his way down the pool in the butterfly leg (34.76 split) before Jack Bugler (Blenheim) brought it home in the freestyle (28.57 split). The team finished ninth overall to narrowly miss the final.


Day Four Preview

The fourth day of racing consists of the highly popular 100m freestyle. Ian Chen heads into the 400m individual medley as the current II3 World Record holder, with Chloe Gladwin in the hunt for more medals in Bangkok. The team has the 4 x 200m freestyle relay for II1 and II3 classifications to round out the day as well.


The heats are held 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 Virtus Sport YouTube channel 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


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 & Results

 

David Beck (Club 37 – II1 Classification)

  • Men’s 400m freestyle II1 (result: 4:49.87 - 14th overall)

  • Men’s 100m backstroke II1 (result: 1:13.80 - 22nd overall)

  • Men’s 200m freestyle II1 (result: 2:16.50 - 20th overall)

  • Men’s 4 x 50m freestyle relay II1 (result: 27.28 split, 1:54.62 in final - 8th overall - S14 NZ Record, 27.78 split, 1:56.37 in heat - S14 NZ Record)

  • Men's 100m breaststroke II1 (result: 1:33.85 - exhibition swim)

  • Men’s 50m backstroke II1 (result: 33.69 - 16th overall)

  • Men’s 4 x 50m medley relay II1 (result: 32.19 backstroke split, 2:10.14 - 9th overall)

  • 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 (result: 4:59.92 - 25th overall)

  • Men’s 200m freestyle II1 (result: 2:19.28 - 26th overall)

  • Men’s 4 x 50m freestyle relay II1 (result: 28.29 split, 1:54.62 in final - 8th overall - S14 NZ Record, 29.23 split, 1:56.37 in heat - S14 NZ Record)

  • Men’s 4 x 50m medley relay II1 (result: 28.57 freestyle split, 2:10.14 - 9th overall)

  • 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 (result: 7:30.35 - 14th overall)

  • Men’s 50m breaststroke II2 (result: 47.68 - 14th overall)

  • Men’s 200m individual medley II2 (result: 3:43.59 - 14th overall)

  • Men’s 100m breaststroke II2 (result: 1:45.65 - 9th overall - PB & S18 NZ Record)

  • 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 (result: 33.13 in final - Silver overall, 35.41 in heat)

  • Men’s 200m individual medley II3 (result: 2:23.93 in final - Bronze overall - PB, 2:25.31 in heat)

  • Men's 4 x 50m freestyle relay II3 (result: 27.73 split, 1:52.62 in final - 5th overall - S19 NZ Record)

  • Men’s 100m breaststroke II3 (result: 1:12.93 in final - Gold overall - PB, 1:14.31 in heat)

  • 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 (result: 5:05.78 - 30th overall)

  • Men’s 50m breaststroke II1 (result: 39.78 - 30th overall)

  • Men’s 200m freestyle II1 (result: 2:31.06 - 35th overall)

  • Men’s 4 x 50m freestyle relay II1 (result: 31.02 split, 1:54.62 in final - 8th overall - S14 NZ Record, 31.14 split, 1:56.37 in heat - S14 NZ Record)

  • Men’s 100m breaststroke II1 (result: 1:28.66 - 31st overall)

  • Men’s 4 x 50m medley relay II1 (result: 34.76 butterfly split, 2:10.14 - 9th overall)

  • 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 (result: 1:19.02 - 12th overall)

  • Men’s 50m butterfly II3 (result: 31.73 - 18th overall)

  • Men's 4 x 50m freestyle relay II3 (result: 30.52 split, 1:52.62 in final - 5th overall - S19 NZ Record)

  • Men’s 50m backstroke II3 (result: 35.00 - 10th overall)

  • 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 (result: 4:55.70 - 4th overall & Gold in youth)

  • Women’s 100m backstroke II3 (result: 1:17.49 in final - Bronze overall & Bronze in youth - PB & S19 NZ Record, 1:20.12 in heat)

  • Women’s 200m freestyle II3 (result: 2:23.58 - 4th overall & Silver in youth - PB)

  • Women’s 200m individual medley II3 (result: 2:43.54 in final - Silver overall & Gold in youth - S19 NZ Record & PB, 2:45.76 in heat - PB)

  • Women’s 1500m freestyle II3 (result: 19:21.58 - 4th overall, Gold in youth)

  • Women’s 50m backstroke II3 (result: 37.57 - 5th overall - PB & S19 NZ Record)

  • 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 (result: 35.44 - 18th overall)

  • Men’s 200m individual medley II1 (result: 2:42.19 - 23rd overall - PB)

  • Men’s 4 x 50m freestyle relay II1 (result: 28.03 split, 1:54.62 in final - 8th overall - S14 NZ Record, 28.22 split, 1:56.37 in heat - S14 NZ Record)

  • Men’s 100m breaststroke II1 (result: 1:17.81 - 15th overall)

  • Men’s 4 x 50m medley relay II1 (result: 34.62 breaststroke split, 2:10.14 - 9th overall)

  • 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 (result: 5:07.41 - 15th overall)

  • Men’s 50m breaststroke II3 (result: 42.38 - 14th overall)

  • Men’s 200m freestyle II3 (result: 2:26.25 - 15th overall)

  • Men’s 1500m freestyle II3 (result: 20:47.73 - 8th overall)

  • Men’s 100m breaststroke II3 (result: 1:31.95 - 13th overall - PB)

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

 

Quinn Pike (Hamilton Aquatics – II3 Classification)

  • Women’s 400m freestyle II3 (result: 4:58.54 - 5th overall & Silver in youth)

  • Women’s 50m breaststroke II3 (result: 41.17 - 5th overall & Bronze in youth - PB & S19 NZ Open & Age Record)

  • Women’s 200m individual medley II3 (result: 2:45.80 in final - 4th overall & Silver in youth, 2:45.29 - World Record, S19 NZ Open & Age Record and PB)

  • Women’s 100m breaststroke II3 (result: 1:29.61 - Bronze overall, Gold in youth - PB & S19 NZ Open & Age Record)

  • 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 (result: 2:17.39 - 10th overall)

  • Men’s 50m butterfly II3 (result: 29.78 - 13th overall)

  • Men's 4 x 50m freestyle relay II3 (result: 27.11 split, 1:52.62 in final - 5th overall - S19 NZ Record)

  • 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 (result: 1:12.38 in final - 8th overall & Bronze in youth, 1:12.00 in heat - PB & S19 NZ Open & Age Record)

  • Men’s 50m butterfly II3 (result: 29.55 - 11th overall)

  • Men’s 200m individual medley II3 (result: 2:36.13 in final - 7th overall & Gold in youth, 2:36.35 in heat)

  • Men's 4 x 50m freestyle relay II3 (result: 27.26 split, 1:52.62 in final - 5th overall - S19 NZ Record)

  • Men’s 50m backstroke II3 (result: 32.13 in final - 6th overall & Silver in youth - PB, 32.25 in heat - PB)

  • 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:

Name
Club
Coach
Role

David Beck

Club 37

Mitch Nairn

Swimmer

Jack Bugler

Blenheim

Shane Skehan

Swimmer

Joseph Blake

Hamilton Aquatics

Aly Fitch

Swimmer

Ian Chen

St Paul's

Graham Smith

Swimmer

Bailey Conlon

Swim Rotorua

Aidan Withington

Swimmer

Lance Dustow

Central Hawke's Bay

Alonso Fernandez Rodriguez

Swimmer

Chloe Gladwin

Whakatane

Mason Pickering

Swimmer

James Haydon

Club 37

Mitch Nairn

Swimmer

Tate Pichon

Club 37

Mitch Nairn

Swimmer

Quinn Pike

Hamilton Aquatics

Aly Fitch

Swimmer

Finn Russ

Selwyn

Ben Close

Swimmer

Jole Watkins

Pukekohe

Sheldon Kemp

Swimmer

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

Name
Club
Role

Glen Findlay

Nelson South

Head Coach

Mason Pickering

Whakatane

Assistant Coach

Jules Gladwin

Whakatane

Team Manager


 
 
 

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