Double Silver for New Zealand Swimmers on Day One in Glasgow

11 hours ago
5 min read

Day One Wrap – Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Erika Fairweather (North Shore – coached by Graham Hill) and Lewis Clareburt (United / Nunawading – coached by Jol Finck) have got the New Zealand swimming campaign off to a flying start, securing two silver medals on day one of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland.

Fairweather was solid as she claimed New Zealand's first medal of the Games and the first Commonwealth Games medal of her career with silver in the women's 400m freestyle, while Lewis Clareburt was in career best form, setting a new national record on his way to silver in the men's 200m individual medley.

Fairweather, 22, clocked 4:02.65 to finish second, behind gold medallist Lani Pallister of Australia, who moved further ahead the longer the race went and won in 3:59.56. Teammates Caitlin Deans (Neptune & Swim Dunedin – coached by Lars Humer) and Eve Thomas (Coast – coached by Michael Weston) also featuring in the final, with Deans sixth in 4:09.45 and Eve Thomas eighth in 4:12.23. The race was notable for New Zealand swimming, with three swimmers in a final an exceptional achievement.

Fairweather said post-race that while it wasn’t her fastest performance she was happy to be on the podium.

“You can't be mad when you come away with that. I was gutted last time when I never won a medal, so this is super-special,” said Fairweather.

Clareburt followed with New Zealand's second silver medal of the session, producing a powerful final 50 metres to surge home in 1:56.77 in the men’s 200m Individual Medley.

The New Zealander, who has just turned 27, sat in third for much of the race but his strength on the closing lap lifted him ahead of Englishman Tom Dean.

His performance set a new national record and saw him finish just 0.39 seconds behind gold medallist and home town hero Duncan Scott.

Clareburt was delighted with his silver medal but even happier to have swum a PB.

“I've been sitting on that 1min 57s mark for eight years. It's so good to have finally cracked it, and on such a big stage. What a great feeling!,” said Clareburt. “I was breathing out the wrong side so I didn't know where I was placed, but I felt I was going well.”

Clareburt was the fourth fastest qualifier in the morning heats, and in the final showed his ability to turn in a big performance when needed.

The day concluded with the women's 50m butterfly semi-finals, where both Hazel Ouwehand (Phoenix – coached by David Lyles) and Zoe Pedersen (Coast – coached by Michael Weston) progressed to the final.

Ouwehand qualified third fastest in 26.01, while Pedersen also impressed, booking her place in the medal race as the sixth-fastest qualifier in 26.38, to complete another successful day for the New Zealand team.

Attention now turns to day three, with Erika Fairweather returning for the women's 200m freestyle. Hazel Ouwehand and Zoe Pedersen will contest the women's 50m butterfly final, while Savannah-Eve Martin and Amber George begin their campaigns in the women's 100m backstroke. New Zealand will round out the day two heats session with the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay.

Day Two