Day 1 Wrap of the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha
Dunedin’s Erika Fairweather (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) has become New Zealand’s latest World Champion, winning the Women's 400m Freestyle final in Doha this morning (NZDT).
The 20-year-old was all class at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships, leading the final from start to finish, to touch the wall in a PB and New Zealand Record time of 3:59.44s and claim the World Championship title.
It is New Zealand’s first ever gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships and Fairweather celebrated with a fist pump as she saw the result.
“I’m so excited,” said Fairweather.
“How crazy was that. I’m so stoked with that time. I’m so happy with where I am right now and I’m so excited for what’s to come.”
Fairweather came out strong in the final and looked a cut above the rest of the field from the outset. She had a lead of 1.65s lead at halfway and finished 2.18s ahead of her closest rival for an emphatic victory.
China’s Bingjie Li took silver and Germany’s Isabel Gose bronze. New Zealand’s Eve Thomas also made the final, finishing seventh in 4:05.87s.
Fairweather had earlier breezed through her heat in 4:04.70s, with the time also qualifying her for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to be held in July and August this year. Thomas also swam under the Paris qualifying time in her heat to qualify fifth fastest for the final before going faster in the final.
The Dunedin swimmer will also compete in the 200m and 800m Freestyle, as well as the 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay at the World Championships. It is the second World Championship medal for Fairweather who last year won bronze in the same event.
Congratulations to Erika Fairweather and her coach Lars Humer. Congratulations also to Eve Thomas for her performances.
Cameron Gray (Coast) was the other Kiwi to feature on the first day, swimming just outside his NZ Record in the Men's 50m Butterfly to place 20th overall (23.62s).
Day two sees Eve Thomas return to the pool for the Women's 1500m Freestyle and will be joined by Caitlin Deans (Neptune & Swim Dunedin). Andrew Jeffcoat will make his first appearance of the championships in the Men's 100m Backstroke. The heats start from 7.30pm NZDT this evening.
Stay up-to-date with all of the action on our Swimming NZ social media throughout the championships.
You can watch the livestream through the World Aquatics Recast platform by purchasing access from the link below.
2024 World Aquatics Championships Team
Lewis Clareburt (#257) - Club 37
200m Individual Medley
400m Individual Medley
200m Butterfly
Laticia-Leigh Transom (#264) - Ice Breaker Aquatics
4 x 200m Freestyle Relay
Erika Fairweather (#266) - Neptune & Swim Dunedin
200m Freestyle
400m Freestyle
800m Freestyle
4 x 200m Freestyle Relay
Eve Thomas (#270) - Coast
400m Freestyle
800m Freestyle
1500m Freestyle
4 x 200m Freestyle Relay
Caitlin Deans (#276) – Neptune & Swim Dunedin
1500m Freestyle
Cameron Gray (#277) - Coast
100m Freestyle
50m Freestyle
50m Butterfly
100m Butterfly
Andrew Jeffcoat (#279) - Club 37
200m Backstroke
100m Backstroke
50m Backstroke
Summer Osborne (#286) - North Shore
4 x 200m Freestyle Relay
Support Staff
Lars Humer - Swim Dunedin (Coach)
Michael Weston - Coast (Coach)
Mitch Nairn - Club 37 (Coach)
Gary Francis (Team Leader)
Megan Munro (Physiotherapist)
New Zealand Team Schedule
Day One (11 Feb)
Men’s 50m Butterfly – Cameron Gray
Women’s 400m Freestyle – Erika Fairweather, Eve Thomas
Day Two (12 Feb)
Men’s 100m Backstroke – Andrew Jeffcoat
Women’s 1500m Freestyle – Caitlin Deans, Eve Thomas
Day Three (13 Feb)
Women’s 200m Freestyle – Erika Fairweather
Men’s 200m Butterfly – Lewis Clareburt
Day Four (14 Feb)
Men’s 100m Freestyle – Cameron Gray
Men’s 200m Individual Medley – Lewis Clareburt
Day Five (15 Feb)
Men’s 200m Backstroke – Andrew Jeffcoat
Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay– Erika Fairweather, Laticia Transom, Eve Thomas, Summer Osborne
Day Six (16 Feb)
Men’s 100m Butterfly – Cameron Gray
Men’s 50m Freestyle – Cameron Gray
Women’s 800m Freestyle – Erika Fairweather, Eve Thomas
Day Seven (17 Feb)
Men’s 50m Backstroke – Andrew Jeffcoat
Day Eight (18 Feb)
Men’s 400m Individual Medley – Lewis Clareburt
