Officials Diary – Kiwis Share Experiences from Romania & Singapore

Officials Diary – 2025 World Para Swimming Championships & World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships

We had two Kiwis involved in delivery of recent world championships held abroad. Ellie Sherwood (Bay of Plenty) made her first appearance as an official at a World Aquatics event at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Romania. More recently, Carlrine Gillespie (Northland) shared her experience from the recent 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore.

Both have shared some insights into what it was like behind the scenes from their respective championships.

Ellie Sherwood - 2025 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships

Shewood was fortunate enough to be appointed to her first World Aquatics competition since being added to the World Aquatics Swimming Officials List earlier this year.

The 2025 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships were held in Otopeni, Romania, in a world-class swimming complex that included a 10-lane 50m pool, warm-up pool, diving pool and learn to swim pool. Sherwood thought the facility was an amazing host for the championships, with venue having seating for 2,800 spectators plus dedicated space for media and broadcast to add to the scale of the event.

Sherwood was an Inspector of Turns (IOT) for each of the six days of competition. She learnt that the Chief IOT would use hand signals rather than whistles as to when to stand up and sit down. She also observed the Referee use hand signals to call the swimmers out of the pool at the end of the race, and nods from Chief IOTs and Judge of Stroke (JOS) to Referees to indicate they were ready. There was synchronisation of officials ensuring they marched on and off the pool deck at the right times.

Sherwood found the most rewarding aspects of being there were meeting new people, gaining insights into different cultures, witnessing top-level swimmers in action, and the overall experience of officiating internationally. She also found it fascinating to compare protocols and language differences.

Sherwood's favourite moments at the championships included being in a different country and working with people from around the world with the same focus – to officiate the championships to the best of their ability – and, of course, hearing the New Zealand national anthem played for Zoe Pedersen's gold medal in the women's 50m butterfly.

Sherwood was incredibly grateful to World Aquatics and Swimming NZ for the opportunity.

Carlrine Gillespie - 2025 World Para Swimming Championships

Gillespie was appointed to her fourth World Para Swimming Championships, with the 2025 edition taking place last month in Singapore. She was one of 13 international technical officials appointed for the seven days of competition. She held four different roles across the championships, with two days as a Judge of Stroke (JOS), two days as Call Room Supervisor, two days as Chief IOT and one day at the Resolutions Desk.

Whilst in Singapore, Gillespie helped deliver the training workshop for the national technical officials the day prior to racing commencing. Gillespie also spent time as a warm up supervisor prior to the heats and finals, assisted the Technical Delegates with any other tasks they were called upon and worked alongside the national technical officials to assist their development.

The championships were held at the OCBC Aquatic Centre in Singapore, which is a 3,000 seat indoor facility that features a 10-lane 50m competition pool, an 8-lane 50m training pool and a 25m wide diving and multi-purpose pool.

The championships were held in Asia for the first time and it was one of the best World Para Swimming Championships that have been hosted. It was very hot and humid though!

Gillespie expressed that it's always special to officiate at international competitions.

"It is always a huge honour and a privilege to be appointed to officiate at an international competition. We do not represent our country but the World Para Swimming organisation as all officials are completely neutral."

Gillespie noted that she never stops learning as a technical official. She shared that there is always something that you learn at any competition you officiate at, and Singapore was no exception. Assisting the national technical officials in their learning was particularly rewarding as well.

Gillespie had a couple of favourite moments during her time in Singapore.

"Once again working with a great team of international and national technical officials, WPS staff, volunteers, broadcasting, timing, etc to assist in delivering the championships. The people and the swimming provide the memories, and there were some outstanding swimming moments with so many records broken. I must also add that the 'volunteers' relay held during one of the breaks, where all the above were represented, was a lovely moment."

As always, Gillespie was grateful to World Para Swimming and Swimming NZ for the opportunity.

Thanks to both for sharing their insights about what life was like helping to deliver these pinnacle international swimming competitions. Congratulations on your appointments and for acquitting yourselves to high standards on the international stage, it is a well deserved recognition for both of you.