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Kiwi Swimmers End World Cup Series on a High in Toronto

Competition Wrap – 2025 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup – Stop Three


Photo Credit: Michael P. Hall / World Aquatics
Photo Credit: Michael P. Hall / World Aquatics

Six New Zealand swimmers competed in the final stop of the 2025 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Toronto, Canada, over the weekend to round out three consecutive weeks of racing against some of the best swimmers from around the globe.

 

Erika Fairweather (North Shore) was one of the standout performers once again, getting her campaign started with her third consecutive silver medal in the 400m freestyle on the first day of racing. The 21-year-old swam the second fastest time of her career, and the fastest of the three World Cups this year, en route to touching second (3:56.12). Lani Pallister (Australia – 3:51.87) took the gold in a World Cup record time, with Freya Colbert (Great Britain – 3:58.46) taking the bronze.

 

Fairweather continued her fine form the following day in the 200m freestyle final, swimming just outside her New Zealand record time she achieved the previous week to win bronze behind Mollie O’Callaghan (Australia – 1:49.36), who broke the World Record for the second consecutive week, and Lani Pallister (1:51.75).

 

Fairweather rounded out her final weekend of racing in North America with a silver in the 800m freestyle, clocking a personal best time of 8:09.69. Fairweather was joined on the podium by fellow Aquablack Caitlin Deans (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) who claimed bronze  (8:11.76) – achieving her third personal best in as many events in Toronto. Lani Pallister (7:54.00) shattered Katie Ledecky’s World Record to claim the gold medal.

 

Cameron Gray (United) carried on from where he left off the previous week, with the 22-year-old breaking the 50m freestyle NZ record twice in one day. Having already lowered the mark last week, Gray proceeded to slash 0.15 seconds off in the heats (21.30) to qualify for the final. Later that day, Gray lowered the mark again by another 0.13 seconds (21.17). He finished equal sixth overall in a remarkable three-way tie. Josh Liendo (Canada – 20.31) won the final in a World Cup record time ahead of his home crowd.

 

We have provided a brief overview of other finalists in each of the days below. You can find all the results from our New Zealand swimmers at the bottom of this article.

 

That concludes the three weeks of racing at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup.

 

Day One Highlights

Alongside Fairweather’s silver medal, Caitlin Deans continued her career-best form where she finished fourth in the same event, the 400m freestyle. She dropped under the four-minute barrier for the first time (3:59.89) as she achieved her personal best time.

 

Gray also broke the two New Zealand records in the same day.

 

Day Two Highlights

Deans carried her form into the second day as she also qualified alongside Fairweather for the 200m freestyle final. After taking more than half a second off her personal best in the morning’s heat (1:55.27), Deans was just outside this mark in the final where she placed eighth (1:55.43).

 

Gina McCarthy (Hamilton Aquatics & RPC Waikato) swam the 400m individual medley in the fastest timed final. She swam the fastest time of her 2025 World Cup campaign to place seventh overall (4:38.13). Ellen Walshe (Ireland – 4:22.97) took the gold medal.

 

Day Three Highlights

Fairweather and Deans claimed silver and bronze, respectively, in the 800m freestyle – both achieving personal best times.

 

Hazel Ouwehand (Phoenix Aquatics) placed eighth in the final of the 100m butterfly (57.49), improving from her time in the heat to notch the fourth fastest time of her career. Gretchen Walsh (USA – 53.10) took gold in a new World Cup record time.









Overall series highlights

  • 6 x Silver medals (Fairweather)

  • 5 x Bronze medals (4 x Deans, 1 x Fairweather)

  • 7 x NZ records (3 x Gray, 2 x Edwards, 1 x Clareburt, 1 x Fairweather)

  • 29 x Top-eight finishes


Swimmer Entries & Results


Lewis Clareburt (Club 37) – Aquablack #257


Stop One – Carmel

  • 400m freestyle (result: 3:41.65 – 5th overall – PB)

  • 400m individual medley (result: 4:03.66 – 4th overall, NZ Record & PB)

  • 200m butterfly (result: 1:53.05 in final – 5th overall, 1:53.43 in heat)

  • 200m backstroke (result: 1:55.19 – 9th overall – PB)


Brearna Crawford (Waitakere)


Stop One – Carmel

  • 50m breaststroke (result: 31.06 – 13th overall)

  • 100m breaststroke (result: 1:07.66 – 18th overall)

  • 200m breaststroke (result: 2:25.08 – 15th overall)


Stop Two – Westmont

  • 50m breaststroke (result: 30.95 – 10th overall)

  • 100m breaststroke (result: 1:06.65 – 12th overall)

  • 200m breaststroke (result: 2:23.27 in final – 8th overall – PB, 2:23.97 in heat – PB)


Caitlin Deans (Neptune / Swim Dunedin) – Aquablack #276


Stop One – Carmel

  • 200m freestyle (result: 1:57.10 – 12th overall)

  • 400m freestyle (result: 4:00.93 – bronze)

  • 800m freestyle (result: 8:13.37 – bronze)


Stop Two – Westmont

  • 400m freestyle (result: 1:56.11 – 12th overall)

  • 200m freestyle (result: 4:00.64 – 6th overall)

  • 1500m freestyle (result: 15:42.18 – bronze – PB)


Stop Three – Toronto

  • 400m freestyle (result: 3:59.89 – 4th overall – PB)

  • 200m freestyle (result: 1:55.43 in final – 8th overall, 1:55.27 in heat – PB)

  • 800m freestyle (result: 8:11.76 – bronze – PB)


Chelsey Edwards (North Shore) – Aquablack #265


Stop One – Carmel

  • 50m freestyle (result: 24.11 in final, 24.27 in heat – 6th overall – 2 x NZ Record & 2 x PB)

  • 100m freestyle (result: 53.30 – 9th overall)

  • 200m freestyle (result: 1:56.00 – 11th overall – PB)


Stop Two – Westmont

  • 50m freestyle (result: 24.56 – 11th overall)

  • 100m freestyle (result: 53.41 – 11th overall)

  • 200m freestyle (result: 1:57.10 – 14th overall)


Erika Fairweather (North Shore) – Aquablack #266


Stop One – Carmel

  • 200m freestyle (result: 1:53.33 in final – 4th overall, 1:54.29 in heat)

  • 400m freestyle (result: 3:58.83 – silver)

  • 800m freestyle (result: 8:12.57 – silver)


Stop Two – Westmont

  • 200m freestyle (result: 1:52.66 in final – 4th overall – NZ record & PB, 1:53.72 in heat)

  • 400m freestyle (result: 3:57.99 – silver)

  • 1500m freestyle (result: 15:30.22 – silver – PB)


Stop Three – Toronto

  • 400m freestyle (result: 3:56.12 – silver)

  • 200m freestyle (result: 1:52.71 in final – bronze, 1:54.19 in heat)

  • 800m freestyle (result: 8:09.69 – silver – PB)


Isabelle Gibson (Club 37)


Stop One – Carmel

  • 50m backstroke (result: 28.21 – 21st overall)

  • 100m backstroke (result: 1:00.49 – 20th overall)

  • 200m backstroke (result: 2:11.25 – 13th overall)


Stop Two – Westmont

  • 50m backstroke (result: 28.35 – 25th overall)

  • 100m backstroke (result: 1:00.66 – 20th overall)

  • 200m backstroke (result: 2:13.71 – 23rd overall)


Stop Three – Toronto

  • 50m backstroke (result: 28.35 – 25th overall)

  • 100m backstroke (result: 1:00.23 – 18th overall)

  • 200m backstroke (result: 2:12.56 – 19th overall)


Cameron Gray (United) – Aquablack #277


Stop One – Carmel

  • 50m freestyle (result: 21.53 – 10th overall)

  • 100m freestyle (result: 47.61 – 21st overall – PB)

  • 200m freestyle (result: 1:45.61 – 19th overall)

  • 50m backstroke (result: 23.39 in final – 7th overall – PB, 23.72 in heat)

  • 50m butterfly (result: 23.14 – 13th overall)

  • 100m butterfly (result: 52.43 – 17th overall)


Stop Two – Westmont

  • 50m freestyle (result: 21.45 – 11th overall – NZ record & PB)

  • 100m freestyle (result: 47.86 – 26th overall)

  • 200m freestyle (result: 1:43.70 – 13th overall – PB)

  • 50m backstroke (result: 23.82 in final – 8th overall, 23.55 in heat)

  • 100m butterfly (result: 23.68 – 26th overall)


Stop Three – Toronto

  • 50m freestyle (result: 21.17 in final – 6th overall, 21.30 in heat – 2 x NZ record & 2 x PB)

  • 100m freestyle (result: 47.05 – 9th overall – PB)

  • 200m freestyle (result: 1:45.02 – 17th overall)


Jack Hendy (Club 37 / Nusport HPC)


Stop One – Carmel

  • 50m freestyle (result: 21.96 – 24th overall)

  • 50m butterfly (result: 23.47 – 20th overall)

  • 50m backstroke (result: 24.36 – 21st overall)


Stop Two – Westmont

  • 50m freestyle (result: 22.03 – 29th overall)

  • 100m freestyle (result: 49.28 – 43rd overall)

  • 50m butterfly (result: 24.82 – 27th overall)

  • 50m backstroke (result: 23.61 – 24th overall)


Gina McCarthy (Hamilton Aquatics / RPC Waikato)


Stop One – Carmel

  • 200m breaststroke (result: 2:30.27 – 18th overall)

  • 200m backstroke (result: 2:10.32 – 12th overall)

  • 200m individual medley (result: 2:14.84 – 17th overall)

  • 400m individual medley (result: 4:39.19 – 7th overall)


Stop Two – Westmont

  • 400m freestyle (result: 4:18.73 – 19th overall)

  • 100m individual medley (result: 1:03.61 – 26th overall)

  • 400m individual medley (result: 4:43.73 – 12th overall)

  • 200m backstroke (result: 2:10.22 – 16th overall)


Stop Three – Toronto

  • 200m butterfly (result: 2:19.33 – 19th overall)

  • 400m individual medley (result: 4:38.13 – 7th overall)

  • 200m backstroke (result: 2:10.68 – 10th overall)

  • 200m individual medley (result: 2:14.50 – 13th overall)


Hazel Ouwehand (Phoenix Aquatics) – Aquablack #283


Stop One – Carmel

  • 50m backstroke (result: 27.56 – 18th overall)

  • 100m backstroke (result: 1:00.42 – 19th overall)

  • 50m butterfly (result: 25.62 in final – 5th overall, 25.66 in heat)

  • 100m butterfly (result: 59.64 – 13th overall)

  • 50m freestyle (result: 25.62 – 22nd overall)


Stop Two – Westmont

  • 50m freestyle (result: 25.64 – 26th overall)

  • 50m backstroke (result: 27.89 – 18th overall)

  • 100m backstroke (result: 1:02.29 – 31st overall)

  • 50m butterfly (result: 26.37 – 11th overall)

  • 100m butterfly (result: 58.95 in final – 8th overall, 57.75 in heat)


Stop Three – Toronto

  • 50m butterfly (result: 26.35 – 10th overall)

  • 200m butterfly (result: 2:15.56 – 12th overall)

  • 100m butterfly (result: 57.49 in final – 8th overall, 57.59 in heat)


Other Results for Coaches from New Zealand

We would like to acknowledge our coaches based in New Zealand who work with athletes representing different federations.


Graham Hill coaching Rebecca Meder (North Shore representing South Africa)

  • 100m individual medley (result: 58.81 in final – 6th overall, 58.80 in heat)

  • 100m breaststroke (result: 1:04.48 in final – bronze, 1:05.52 in heat)

  • 200m breaststroke (result: 2:18.81 in final – 4th overall, 2:20.62 in heat)

  • 200m individual medley (result: 2:05.83 in final – 5th overall, 2:07.08 in heat)


Team

The swimmers that represented New Zealand across the series:

Name
Club
Coach

Lewis Clareburt

Club 37

Mitch Nairn

Brearna Crawford

Waitakere

Paul Kent

Caitlin Deans

Neptune & Swim Dunedin

Lars Humer

Chelsey Edwards

North Shore

Graham Hill

Erika Fairweather

North Shore

Graham Hill

Isabelle Gibson

Club 37

Mitch Nairn

Cameron Gray

United

Andy McMillan

Jack Hendy

Club 37 & Nusport HPC

Mitch Nairn & Sander Ganzevles

Gina McCarthy

Hamilton Aquatics & RPC Waikato

Mat Woofe

Hazel Ouwehand

Phoenix Aquatics

David Lyles


The coaches selected to guide our team are:

Name
Organisation
Role

Graham Hill

Swimming NZ & North Shore

Head Coach

Andy McMillan

United

Coach


 
 
 
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