Day Three Wrap – 2024 World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) - Budapest, Hungary
Day three of racing at the 2024 World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Budapest was another exciting one for our team, as Helena Gasson (Coast) led the way into her third semi-final of the week and our younger swimmers continued to produce their career bests on the big stage – highlighted by a New Zealand Age Record.
The third day of action saw Gasson take on the women’s 100m individual medley. Swimming in the third last heat against close friend Beryl Gastaldello (France), Gasson got off to a great start from lane two. It was close at the end of the butterfly leg, before Gasson started to move her way through the field in the backstroke to turn fourth at the halfway mark. A strong breaststroke leg saw her turn for home in second position, before a flurry of freestylers had her touch fifth in her heat (59.14). This enabled her to comfortably progress as the 12th fastest into the semi-final.
Swimming in the first semi-final from lane seven, Gasson had the best reaction off the blocks and was challenging the leaders throughout the race. Turning third at end of the butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke legs, Gasson emptied the tank during the freestyle leg to touch fifth on the wall (58.70). The time was the second fastest of her career. In the following semi-final, Gretchen Walsh dominated from start to finish to continue her record-breaking form at these championships, claiming her third individual World Record in as many days to progress through to the final as the fastest seed. Gasson finished 11th overall, narrowly missing out on progressing to the final.
The semi-final marked Gasson’s last individual race in her career, with the 30-year-old saving some of her best performances until last. Congratulations to Gasson, coach Michael Weston and her support team for her impressive swims on day three and across her career.
Savannah-Eve Martin (Coast) made her mark on her senior international debut in the women’s 50m backstroke. The youngster had been in fine form at the 2024 Apollo Projects NZ Short Course Swimming Championships to gain selection on the team, and she raised the bar from there. Martin was away quickly at the start with an excellent reaction time in the last heat against some of the biggest names in the sport. She touched eighth on the wall to swim a personal best (26.98), dipping under the 27 seconds barrier for the first time in her career to lower her own 18 Years New Zealand Age Record. Martin narrowly missed out on progressing to the semi-finals, finishing in 20th place overall.
Congratulations to Martin, coach Michael Weston and her support team for her impressive debut.
Cooper Morley (North Shore) continued her strong form from earlier in the week in the men’s 50m backstroke. Swimming in the outside lane of the last heat, Morley got off to a solid start and continued in that manner to touch sixth in his heat (23.51). The time was a big personal best, lowering his best by 0.33 seconds to finish 21st overall.
That concludes Morley’s individual events in Budapest, where he produced two personal bests from his two races. Congratulations to Morley, his coach Graham Hill and the staff at Pennsylvania State University for his career best results on senior debut.
Ben Littlejohn (St Paul’s) had his first swim of the championships in the men’s 400m freestyle. The Harvard University student was in lane two of the third heat, where he got off to an excellent start to surface ahead of the field and establish nearly a body length lead by the 50m turn. The top four swimmers quickly moved clear of the rest of the field as Littlejohn settled into his rhythm to be third at halfway. Over the second 200m, the leaders gradually put the foot down with Littlejohn touching fourth in the heat (3:47.53). It was a great performance from Littlejohn, who dropped nearly three seconds from his previous best time to finish 27th overall. In the final, Elijah Winnington (Australia – 3:35.89) timed his race perfectly to win the gold medal, ahead of teammates Carson Foster (USA – 3:36.31) and reigning World Champion Kieran Smith (USA – 3:36.31) who both tied for silver.
Congratulations to Littlejohn, coach Graham Smith and the team at Harvard University for his personal best at his second world short course championships. Littlejohn will return to action for the men’s 200m freestyle on day six.
Sam Brown (Coast) was back in action for his shortest distance of these championships – the men’s 100m individual medley. Swimming in the third heat from lane one, the 21-year-old had a strong backstroke and breaststroke leg before finishing strongly to touch seventh in his heat (54.50). Finishing 22nd overall, the performance marked the second fastest time of his career. Noe Ponti (Switzerland – 50.43) continued his outstanding form to break the Championship Record in the semi-final to qualify fastest for the final tomorrow.
Brown will now turn his attention to the longest event on his programme, the men’s 400m individual medley on day five. Congratulations to Brown, coach Michael Weston and his support team.
Neve Tassicker (Nga Tai Tuatea a Taraika) made her debut at the World Aquatics level in the women’s 200m butterfly. Racing in the final heat against the silver medalist from Paris, Regan Smith (USA – 2:04.11), the 19-year-old got away smartly and was consistent at every turn. Tassicker produced the second best time of her career (2:12.99), touching ninth in her heat and finishing 23rd overall. Summer McIntosh (Canada) continued her unbelievable form in 2024 to break the World Junior Record in the heats (2:01.96), before dominating the final to break the World Record on her way to gold (1:59.32) ahead of Regan Smith (2:01.00) and Elizabeth Dekkers (Australia – 2:02.91).
It was the only individual event of Tassicker’s campaign in Budapest. Congratulations to Tassicker, her coach David Lush and her support team for her performance on the big stage.
Other Results
Whilst not on the New Zealand team, we would like to acknowledge the following results by swimmers who swim with our clubs whilst representing other countries:
Rebecca Meder (South Africa & North Shore - coached by Graham Hill) - sixth in women’s 100m breaststroke final (1:03.93)
Rebecca Meder (South Africa & North Shore - coached by Graham Hill) – fourth in women’s 100m individual medley semi-final (57.69 – African Record) and fifth in heat (58.44)
Kokoro Frost (Samoa & Otaki Titans - coached by Jon Winter) – 49th in men’s 50m backstroke (25.58)
Day Four Preview
Heats (from 9pm NZDT – Friday 13 December)
Mixed 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay
Women's 200m Breaststroke (Pratt-Smith)
Women's 100m Butterfly (Ouwehand)
Men's 100m Butterfly (Elson)
Women's 1500m Freestyle Timed Final (Thomas)
Potential Finals Swims (from 5.30am NZDT – Saturday 14 December)
Mixed 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay Final - 5.32am
Women's 200m Breaststroke Final (Pratt-Smith) - 5.40am
Women's 100m Butterfly Semi-Final (Ouwehand) - 6.20am
Men's 100m Butterfly Semi-Final (Elson) - 6.35am
The session is set to start with a bang, with our first relay team of the week made up of Jack Hendy (Club 37), Hugo Wrathall (Jasi), Zoe Pedersen (Coast) and Emma Godwin (Heretaunga Sundevils) set to take on the mixed 4 x 50m freestyle. Following the relay we have four individual swimmers in action on day four. Eve Thomas (Coast) returns for her third and final event of the week when she takes on the women's 1500m freestyle, seeded 15th from her long course time. Hazel Ouwehand (Phoenix Aquatics) enters the women's 100m butterfly with the 18th fastest time, before Chris Elson (Vikings) takes on the men's event. Zyleika Pratt-Smith (Coast) will make her senior debut in the women's 200m breaststroke to round out the action on day four.
The heats session will start at 9pm NZDT, with finals sessions due to start at 5.30am NZDT the following morning.
You can watch the livestream through the World Aquatics Recast platform by purchasing access from the link below.
Stay up-to-date with all of the action and latest results in Budapest via our Swimming NZ social media channels. Check out our preview of our Kiwis in action each day below.
Day Five
Heats (from 9pm NZDT – Saturday 14 December)
Women's 400m Individual Medley (McCarthy)
Men's 400m Individual Medley (Brown)
Women's 50m Freestyle (Pedersen)
Men's 50m Freestyle (Hendy)
Women's 50m Breaststroke (Crawford)
Men's 800m Freestyle Timed Final (Hamblyn-Ough)
Mixed 4 x 100m Medley Relay
Potential Finals Swims (from 5.30am NZDT – Sunday 15 December)
Women's 100m Butterfly Final (Ouwehand) - 5.32am
Men's 100m Butterfly Final (Elson) - 5.40am
Women's 50m Breaststroke Semi-Final (Crawford) - 5.48am
Women's 50m Freestyle Semi-Final (Pedersen) - 6.12am
Men's 50m Freestyle Semii-Final (Hendy) - 6.21am)
Women's 400m Individual Medley Final (McCarthy) - 6.30am
Men's 400m Individual Medley Final (Brown) - 6.42am
Mixed 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final - 7.14am
Gina McCarthy and Sam Brown return for the longest of the individual medley events, the 400m.
Zoe Pedersen will be back in action for the women's 50m freestyle, with Jack Hendy taking on the men's event.
Brearna Crawford returns for the shorter women's 50m breaststroke, before Larn Hamblyn-Ough races his other event of the week in the men's 800m freestyle timed final.
Day five heats will wrap up with the mixed 4 x 100m medley relay.
Day Six
Heats (from 9pm NZDT – Sunday 15 December)
Women's 200m Freestyle (Welsh)
Men's 200m Freestyle (Littlejohn)
Women's 200m Backstroke (Godwin)
Men's 200m Backstroke (Brown)
Women's 4 x 100m Medley Relay
Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay
Potential Finals Swims (from 5.30am NZDT – Monday 16 December)
Women's 50m Freestyle Final (Pedersen) - 5.32am
Men's 50m Freestyle Final (Hendy) - 5.39am
Women's 50m Breaststroke Final (Crawford) - 5.47am
Women's 200m Backstroke Final (Godwin) - 6.02am
Men's 200m Backstroke Final (Brown) - 6.12am
Women's 200m Freestyle Final (Welsh) - 6.26am
Men's 200m Freestyle Final (Littlejohn) - 6.40am
Women's 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final - 6.54am
Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final - 7.10am
Jesse Welsh will have to wait to the final day to make her debut in the women's 200m freestyle, while Ben Littlejohn will drop down to the men's 200m freestyle for his second event of the championships.
Emma Godwin also needed to wait until the last day for her preferred women's 200m backstroke, before Sam Brown rounds out his busy schedule in the men's event.
The last events for the team will be relays, with both the women and men fielding a 4 x 100m medley relay team to conclude the championships.
Swimmer Entries
Sam Brown
100m Individual Medley (Result: 54.50 - 22nd)
200m Individual Medley (Result: 1:59.55 - 34th)
400m Individual Medley (Entry time: 4:08.84)
200m Backstroke (Entry time: 1:54.17)
Brearna Crawford
50m Breaststroke (Entry time: 30.85)
100m Breaststroke (Result: 1:07.10 - 34th)
Chris Elson
50m Butterfly (Result: 23.23 - PB and 38th)
100m Butterfly (Entry time: 53.64)
Helena Gasson
50m Butterfly (Result: 25.39 in heat, 25.24 in semi-final - NZR and 11th)
100m Backstroke (Result: 57.43 in heat - NZR, 57.64 in semi-final - 15th)
100m Individual Medley (Result: 59.14 in heat, 58.70 in semi-final - 11th)
Emma Godwin
200m Backstroke (Entry time: 2:05.76)
Larn Hamblyn-Ough
800m Freestyle (Entry time: 7:57.76)
1500m Freestyle (Result: 15:20.84 - PB and 22nd)
Jack Hendy
50m Freestyle (Entry time: 21.89)
Ben Littlejohn
200m Freestyle (Entry time: 1:47.65)
400m Freestyle (Result: 3:47.53 - 27th in PB)
Savannah-Eve Martin
50m Backstroke (Result: 26.98 - 20th in 18 Years NZR and PB)
Gina McCarthy
200m Individual Medley (Result: 2:14.14 - 25th)
400m Individual Medley (Entry time: 4:40.43)
Cooper Morley
50m Backstroke (Result: 23.84 - 21st in PB)
100m Backstroke (Result: 51.14 - 20th in PB)
Hazel Ouwehand
50m Butterfly (Result: 26.04 - 24th)
100m Butterfly (Entry time: 57.43)
Zoe Pedersen
50m Freestyle (Entry time: 25.35)
100m Freestyle (Result: 53.86 - 31st in 17 Years NZR and PB)
Zyleika Pratt-Smith
200m Breaststroke (Entry time: 2:23.81)
Neve Tassicker
200m Butterfly (Result: 2:12.99 - 23rd)
Eve Thomas
400m Freestyle (Result: 4:06.27 - 16th)
800m Freestyle (Result: 8:22.27 - 10th in PB)
1500m Freestyle (Entry time: 16:07.46)
Jesse Welsh
200m Freestyle (Entry time: 1:59.63)
Hugo Wrathall
100m Freestyle (Result: 49.39 - 55th)
Daily Schedule
*start times are subject to change, while semi-finals and finals are subject to athlete progression.
Friday 13 December
Day Four Heats – from 9pm NZDT
Mixed 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay
Women's 200m Breaststroke (Pratt-Smith)
Women's 100m Butterfly (Ouwehand)
Men's 100m Butterfly (Elson)
Women's 1500m Freestyle Timed Final (Thomas)
Saturday 14 December
Day Four Finals – from 5.30am NZDT
Mixed 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay Final* - 5.32am
Women's 200m Breaststroke Final (Pratt-Smith*) - 5.40am
Women's 100m Butterfly Semi-Final (Ouwehand*) - 6.20am
Men's 100m Butterfly Semi-Final (Elson*) - 6.35am
Day Five Heats – from 9pm NZDT
Women's 400m Individual Medley (McCarthy)
Men's 400m Individual Medley (Brown)
Women's 50m Freestyle (Pedersen)
Men's 50m Freestyle (Hendy)
Women's 50m Breaststroke (Crawford)
Men's 800m Freestyle Timed Final (Hamblyn-Ough)
Mixed 4 x 100m Medley Relay
Sunday 15 December
Day Five Finals – from 5.30am NZDT
Women's 100m Butterfly Final (Ouwehand*) - 5.32am
Men's 100m Butterfly Final (Elson*) - 5.40am
Women's 50m Breaststroke Semi-Final (Crawford*) - 5.48am
Women's 50m Freestyle Semi-Final (Pedersen*) - 6.12am
Men's 50m Freestyle Semii-Final (Hendy*) - 6.21am)
Women's 400m Individual Medley Final (McCarthy*) - 6.30am
Men's 400m Individual Medley Final (Brown*) - 6.42am
Mixed 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final* - 7.14am
Day Six Heats – from 9pm NZDT
Women's 200m Freestyle (Welsh)
Men's 200m Freestyle (Littlejohn)
Women's 200m Backstroke (Godwin)
Men's 200m Backstroke (Brown)
Women's 4 x 100m Medley Relay
Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay
Monday 16 December
Day Six Finals – from 5.30am NZDT
Women's 50m Freestyle Final (Pedersen*) - 5.32am
Men's 50m Freestyle Final (Hendy*) - 5.39am
Women's 50m Breaststroke Final (Crawford*) - 5.47am
Women's 200m Backstroke Final (Godwin*) - 6.02am
Men's 200m Backstroke Final (Brown*) - 6.12am
Women's 200m Freestyle Final (Welsh*) - 6.26am
Men's 200m Freestyle Final (Littlejohn*) - 6.40am
Women's 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final* - 6.54am
Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final* - 7.10am
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