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Gladwin & Chen Continue Medal-Winning Form in Thailand

Day Two Wrap of the 2025 World Virtus Swimming Championships



The New Zealand team continued their medal-winning form on the second day of competition in Thailand. Chloe Gladwin (Whakatane) and Ian Chen (St Paul’s) once again led the way with open silver and bronze medals respectively. Gladwin, Quinn Pike (Hamilton Aquatics) and Jole Watkins each won youth medals, with Gladwin earning two in the same day. Pike held the II3 World Record in the women’s 200m individual medley during the heats before it was broken again in the following race. A total of five New Zealand records, plus one New Zealand age record, were broken across the day.


Quinn Pike and Chloe Gladwin both competed in the women’s 200m individual medley II3. Pike was in the earlier heat, where she made a solid start to be second at the first turn. The backstroke leg brought the top three together, before the breaststroke leg made it a battle in the yellow lanes. Pike edged ahead and flew home in the freestyle to win the heat (2:45.29). Not only was it a personal best, but it also broke the II3 World Record and S19 New Zealand record (both open and age) in the process.


Gladwin swam in the next heat, where she produced a consistent swim to hold down second throughout the race and set her own personal best time (2:45.76). Pike’s claim to holding the World Record was short-lived, with Kate Wallington (Australia – 2:37.54) breaking it in the same heat as Gladwin. Both Kiwis progressed through to the final comfortably.


In the final, Pike had the pick of the starts in lane five to be in third early. Gladwin joined a line of swimmers down the butterfly lap to be third at the first turn. Gladwin carried that momentum into the backstroke as she moved into outright second at halfway. Pike had some distance to make up when she began the breaststroke leg, and she did take water away from those ahead. Gladwin held on to second during the breaststroke, before she emptied the tank in the freestyle to claim the silver medal overall. Pike flew home to touch fourth overall. Kate Wallington (2:33.62) went faster in the final to break the II3 World Record again in the final and claim the gold medal ahead of Gladwin and Eleonora Esposito (Italy – 2:44.65) the bronze.


Gladwin (2:43.54) broke Pike’s S19 New Zealand record from the heats and set a new personal best. Pike was just outside her time in the heats to achieve the two fastest times of her career on the same day. Gladwin also claimed the youth gold with Pike the youth silver, while Maria Rasmussen (Denmark – 2:46.36) took the youth bronze.


Gladwin was thrilled with her performance in the final.

“I am really happy with that result. I worked really hard for it during the race and definitely felt it after.”

Gladwin has two events on the third day of action – the women’s 1500m freestyle II3 timed final and the women’s 50m backstroke II3. Pike will take on the women’s 100m breaststroke II3.


Ian Chen (St Paul’s) continued his fine form in the men’s 200m individual medley II3. The 20-year-old progressed through the heats as the second fastest qualifier as he set up the race during his backstroke and breaststroke to touch second in the heat (2:25.31) with the second fastest time of his career. Jole Watkins (Pukekohe) also punched his ticket to the final, producing good breaststroke and freestyle legs to finish strongly with the second-best time of his life (2:36.35).


Chen swam from lane five in the final, where he had a good start and got into the butterfly quickly. He had some work to do to catch the leaders after the first turn, but set about a solid backstroke leg that moved him into third at halfway. He bridged the gap to second in the breaststroke leg, before he motored home to be third overall (2:23.93). The time was a personal best as he secured a bronze medal to add to his silver medal from the first night in Bangkok. Axel Parisot (France – 2:12.63) broke the World Record to win the gold medal ahead of Alexander Hejaij (Australia – 2:21.90) the silver medal and Chen with the bronze.


Chen was pleased with his process to win his second medal in as many days.

“I am really trying to focus on my actions and not what the outcome might be. I was happy to race in a final again and to get the bronze medal.”

Watkins also produced a strong performance in the final. He utilised his underwater skills to surface at the front from the start. He was in a battle with the mid-pack at halfway before he finished well to touch seventh overall (2:36.13). The time was the second best of his career, slightly quicker than the morning heat, and it brought him home the youth gold medal.


Chen will race the men’s 100m breaststroke II3 on day three, whilst Watkins will compete in the men’s 50m backstroke II3.


Chloe Gladwin opened her evening session with the women’s 200m freestyle II3 straight final. The 17-year-old raced from lane six and got away to a good start. She worked the underwater longer than her competitors to settle into fourth in the opening lap. She maintained her position throughout the race to achieve a personal best (2:23.58) to finish fourth overall. She claimed the youth silver medal for her performance.


The men’s 4 x 50m freestyle relay II3 was a timed final during the morning session. Finn Russ led the team off well in lane two to be third at the first changeover (27.11 split). Jole Watkins executed a great underwater from the dive to surface in second place (27.26 split). Lance Dustow was third into the water (30.52 split) before Ian Chen (27.73 split) brought the team home in fifth. The team set the S19 New Zealand record in the event (1:52.62) in the process.


The men’s 4 x 50m freestyle relay II1 qualified a spot in the final as the eighth fastest in the heats. The team broke the S14 NZ record in the heats in the order of James Haydon (Club 37), Jack Bugler (Blenheim), Bailey Conlon (Swim Rotorua) and David Beck (Club 37) to set up a swim from lane eight in the final. The team stuck with the same order for the final, where they went significantly faster. Haydon led the team off well (28.03 split), with Bugler (28.29 split) swimming strongly second. Conlon left it all in the pool (31.02 split) before Beck brought it home with the fastest split (27.28). The team smashed the S14 New Zealand record they’d set in the morning to finish eighth overall.


During the heats sessions, three swimmers took part in the men’s 200m freestyle II1. David Beck (2:16.50) was the pick of the Kiwis. The 29-year-old swam from lane zero of the third heat, and had a battle over the last lap with the outside lanes alongside him in his heat as he finished 20th overall. Jack Bugler (2:19.28) was in the next heat in lane seven. The 23-year-old had a high stroke rate through the opening lap before coming in sixth in the heat to place 26th overall. Bailey Conlon (2:31.06) was in the same heat in lane zero. The 19-year-old settled into his rhythm early to finish 35th overall in the event.


Finn Russ (Selwyn) was the lead Kiwi in the men’s 200m freestyle II3. The 18-year-old showed his trademark exuberant energy behind the blocks and appeared ready to go in lane nine of the sixth heat. He turned fifth at the 50m as the yellow lanes were off to a flier, with Russ settling into his pace to touch sixth in the heat (2:17.39). The time was the sixth best of his career as he placed 10th overall. Tate Pichon (Club 37) raced in the previous heat from lane one and had a good start. The 28-year-old was up and stroking quickly off the start to have a solid first lap. Pichon continued his way through the race to achieve the third best time of career (2:26.25) to place 13th overall.


Three swimmers tackled the men’s 50m butterfly II3. Our best result in the one lap race came from Jole Watkins, who had a good start in lane six of the seventh heat. He executed his underwater skills to surface ahead of the field and kept his head down under the flags to achieve the third best time of his career (29.55) and finish 11th overall. Finn Russ returned for his second swim of the morning in the next heat. He started from lane three and rose to the surface quickly from the start to get into his work. He touched fifth in his heat for the fourth best time of his career (29.78) and placed 13th overall. Lance Dustow (Central Hawke’s Bay – 31.73) was in the same heat in lane one as he placed 18th overall.


James Haydon raced his only individual event of the day in the men’s 200m individual medley II1. The 18-year-old was in lane three of the first heat and got away smartly from the blocks to be third at the end of the butterfly. A strong backstroke leg saw him close the gap to second, as he continued his form in the latter laps to finish third in the heat (2:42.19). It was a massive personal best for Haydon, dropping nearly three seconds from his previous best to finish 23rd overall.


Joseph Blake (Hamilton Aquatics) also raced the men’s 200m individual medley event in his II2 classification. The 24-year-old swam from lane one of the fifth heat and settled into his work throughout to achieve the second-best time of his career (3:43.59) to finish 14th overall.


Day Three Preview

Ten swimmers have individual events on the third day of competition. The session begins with the 1500m freestyle timed finals, with Tate Pichon and Chloe Gladwin racing in the men’s and women’s II3 classification respectively. The 100m breaststroke follows with the 50m backstroke afterwards. The men’s 4 x 50m medley relay II1 rounds out the session.


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


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 & 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 (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 (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

  • 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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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:

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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