Kiwi Swimmers Open World Cup with Medals and Records

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

Photo Credit: Mike Lewis/World Aquatics

Our New Zealand team had an impressive showing over the weekend at the first stop of the 2025 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup held in Carmel, Indiana. This year's World Cup series is being held in a short course format across three consecutive weekends in North America, with ten New Zealand swimmers competing at the first stop.

Erika Fairweather (North Shore) and Caitlin Deans (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) each secured two medals across the first leg of the World Cup, winning silver and bronze respectively in the 400m freestyle on day one and in the 800m freestyle on day three.

Fairweather produced the fifth fastest time of her career to secure the silver (3:58.83) in the 400m distance, just ahead of Deans (4:00.93) who continued her outstanding form with the second-best time of her life, edging out Anna Peplowski on the touch for the bronze. Lani Pallister (Australia – 3:54.38) won the event.

Two days later, the trio resumed the middle-distance freestyle battle in the 800m freestyle. Fairweather took the silver with the third fastest time of her career (8:12.57) narrowly ahead of Deans (8:13.37) with her second-best time to take bronze. Pallister (8:02.02) comfortably won the event over the longer distance also.

Chelsey Edwards (North Shore) got the first day off to a flying start, breaking the NZ record in the 50m freestyle heats (24.27) to qualify for the final. The 24-year-old broke the previous mark held by fellow Aquablack Hayley Palmer, set back in 2009. Edwards went faster again in the evening, lowering the record (24.11) en route to sixth place in the final. Katarzyna Wasick (Poland – 23.29) took the gold in the event.

Edwards was thrilled with her two NZ records in one day.

“Honestly I’m absolutely stoked with that race. 0.4 seconds under my PB from before the heats this morning and now I’m a 24.11. The energy (for the final) was insane and I think I held my composure really well. Definitely a new experience for me, I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to do it again.”

Lewis Clareburt (Club 37) was the other swimmer to break a NZ record across the weekend, with the 26-year-old slashing his previous mark by nearly 1.5 seconds in the 400m individual medley. Clareburt raced in the slower timed finals in the morning session, with his time taking fourth overall, narrowly missing out on the podium once the results were collated.

Clareburt was pleased with his performance, particularly given it was during the morning session.

“I was real happy with that swim this morning. I’ve never really been able to hit a PB in a morning before so that was really good information. Doing it by myself and going 4:03 in the morning I can’t complain.”

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

Stop two gets underway in a few days’ time, racing in Westmont, Illinois, from 17 – 19 October.

Day One Highlights

In addition to Edwards, Fairweather and Deans’ performances in finals as noted above, Clareburt also swam in the fastest timed final of the 400m freestyle on the first day. He swam a massive personal best of around 3.5 seconds to finish fifth overall (3:41.65). Carson Foster (USA – 3:37.80) took the gold in an epic finish ahead of Sam Short (Australia – 3:38.15).

Day Two Highlights

Fairweather returned on day two for her second final in as many days – this time in the 200m freestyle. She qualified as the fourth fastest seed (1:54.29) and went faster in the final to finish fourth overall (1:53.33) just outside the podium. Olympic Champion Mollie O’Callaghan (Australia – 1:50.77) took the gold.

Clareburt made the final of the 200m butterfly as the fifth fastest seed (1:53.43) before going faster in the final (1:53.03) to finish fifth overall. Ilya Kharun (Canada – 1:50.65) took the gold.

Cameron Gray (United) made the final of the 50m backstroke. He was the seventh fastest in the heats (23.72) to book lane one for the evening, before going faster in the final to touch seventh overall (23.39). Hubert Kos (Hungary – 22.65) won the gold on his way to a clean sweep of the backstroke events.

Hazel Ouwehand (Phoenix Aquatics) made the final of the 50m butterfly. She qualified sixth fastest from the heats (25.66) before improving her time in the final to finish fifth overall (25.62). Gretchen Walsh (USA – 23.72) broke her own World Record in the final to take the gold.

Gina McCarthy (Hamilton Aquatics / RPC Waikato) swam in the fastest timed final of the women's 400m individual medley, recording the second fastest performance of her career to place seventh overall (4:39.19). Abbie Wood (Great Britain – 4:27.14) took the gold.

Day Three Highlights

Fairweather and Deans were the medallists from day three, with Clareburt’s NZ record in the morning session the key highlights from the last day of racing in Indiana.

Full Results - Stop One

Entries & Results - Stop Two

Entries & Results - Stop Three

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)

Stop Two – Westmont

• 200m freestyle

• 400m freestyle

• 200m individual medley

• 400m individual medley

• 200m butterfly

• 200m backstroke

Stop Three – Toronto

• 200m freestyle

• 400m freestyle

• 200m individual medley

• 400m individual medley

• 200m butterfly

• 200m backstroke

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

• 100m breaststroke

• 200m breaststroke

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

• 200m freestyle

• 1500m freestyle

Stop Three – Toronto

• 400m freestyle

• 200m freestyle

• 800m freestyle

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

• 100m freestyle

• 200m freestyle

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

• 400m freestyle

• 200m freestyle

• 1500m freestyle

• 400m individual medley

Stop Three – Toronto

• 400m freestyle

• 200m freestyle

• 800m freestyle

Isabelle Gibson (Club 37)

Stop One – Carmel

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

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

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

Stop Two – Westmont

• 50m backstroke

• 100m backstroke

• 200m backstroke

Stop Three – Toronto

• 50m backstroke

• 100m backstroke

• 200m backstroke

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

• 100m freestyle

• 200m freestyle

• 50m backstroke

• 100m butterfly

Stop Three – Toronto

• 50m freestyle

• 100m freestyle

• 200m freestyle

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

• 50m butterfly

• 50m backstroke

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

• 100m individual medley

• 400m individual medley

• 200m backstroke

Stop Three – Toronto

• 200m butterfly

• 400m individual medley

• 200m backstroke

• 200m individual medley

Hazel Ouwehand (Phoenix) – 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 backstroke

• 50m freestyle

• 100m backstroke

• 50m butterfly

• 100m butterfly

Stop Three – Toronto

• 50m backstroke

• 50m freestyle

• 100m backstroke

• 50m butterfly

• 100m butterfly

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)

• 200m individual medley (result: 2:05.56 in final – bronze)

• 200m breaststroke (result: 2:18.14 in final – bronze)

• 100m individual medley (result: 58.26 in final – 5th overall)

• 100m breaststroke (result: 1:04.41 in final – 5th overall)

Competition Schedule

Schedule for each of the three stops

Day One

• Women’s 400m freestyle

• Men’s 400m freestyle

• Women’s 50m backstroke

• Men’s 200m backstroke

• Women’s 200m butterfly

• Men’s 100m butterfly

• Women’s 200m breaststroke

• Men’s 100m breaststroke

• Women’s 50m freestyle

• Men’s 50m freestyle

• Women’s 100m individual medley

• Men’s 100m individual medley

Day Two

• Women’s 400m individual medley

• Men’s 50m backstroke

• Women’s 200m freestyle

• Men’s 200m individual medley

• Women’s 100m backstroke

• Men’s 50m breaststroke

• Women’s 50m butterfly

• Men’s 100m freestyle

• Women’s 100m breaststroke

• Men’s 200m butterfly

• Men’s 1500m freestyle (alternatively 800m at stop two)

Day Three

• Men’s 400m individual medley

• Women’s 100m butterfly

• Men’s 50m butterfly

• Women’s 200m backstroke

• Men’s 100m backstroke

• Women’s 50m breaststroke

• Men’s 200m breaststroke

• Women’s 100m freestyle

• Men’s 200m freestyle

• Women’s 200m individual medley

• Women’s 800m freestyle (alternatively 1500m at stop two)

Selected Team

The swimmers selected to represent New Zealand:

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