Team Announcement of the New Zealand Swimming Team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
A strong team of nine swimming athletes has been named represent New Zealand at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The team is led by current World Champions Lewis Clareburt (Club 37 & Waikato-Tainui) and Erika Fairweather (Neptune & Swim Dunedin - Ngāi Tahu). Clareburt won the 400m Individual Medley at this year’s Swimming World Championships in Doha, while Fairweather picked up her World Champion title in the 400m Freestyle, as well as winning silver in the 200m Free and bronze in the 800m Free.
Fairweather is excited to be representing New Zealand at her second Olympic Games.
“I’m so keen to get to Paris. It’s always special getting to compete at this level, so much hard work goes on behind the scenes to prepare for the Olympics and I can’t wait to showcase it.”
Clareburt is humbled by his selection to represent New Zealand at his second Olympic Games.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be an Olympian, let alone going to my second Games. It’s a huge privilege, I can’t wait to represent New Zealand and put the pūkana on the world stage!”
They’re joined by fellow Tokyo Olympian Eve Thomas (Coast), who will also have a busy programme after making three finals at the recent World Championships in Doha, contesting four events. Thomas will race the Women's 400m, 800m and 1500m Freestyle distances, as well as the Women's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay team.
The other six athletes will make their Olympic debuts in Paris after swimming qualification times at the New Zealand Swimming Championships earlier this month.
Hazel Ouwehand (Phoenix Aquatics) was one of the standout performers at the meet, storming home in the Women's 100m Butterfly in a New Zealand record time of 57.43s, almost half a second under the Paris Olympic Games qualifying time.
Ouwehand stated she has achieved a childhood dream through selection for Paris.
“Going to the Olympics has been a dream of mine since I was super young so it’s pretty special to see it realised. I’m really excited for the Games, it’s going to be an amazing field of athletes and I can’t wait to put all my hard work and training into action.”
For 200m Backstroke athlete Kane Follows (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) the selection is particularly sweet. The 27-year-old has never made a New Zealand Aquablacks representative team until now.
“This has been a grind, I’ve missed a lot of teams but I’ve stuck at it, I’ve given so much to the sport and it feels so good to get this result. Sport is a lot of ups and downs but it’s all worth it for this feeling.”
Sprinters Taiko Torepe-Ormsby (Wharenui & Ngāi Tahu) and Cameron Gray (Coast) are the other men in the Olympic squad. Torepe-Ormsby produced the fastest 50m Freestyle swim ever by a New Zealander (21.86s) as he qualified for Paris and for his first Aquablack team, while Cameron Gray beat his own New Zealand record in the Men's 100m Freestyle.
Caitlin Deans (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) and Laticia-Leigh Transom (Club 37) round out the team, contesting the Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay alongside Fairweather and Thomas.
Swimming New Zealand Olympic Programme Lead Gary Francis says they’re excited about the potential of the squad.
“To have nine really quality athletes heading to the Games is fantastic. We’ve got a great mix of experienced campaigners and exciting young talent in this team. We were thrilled with the times these athletes swum at the New Zealand Swimming Championships earlier this month and we’re expecting some special performances in Paris in a few months time.”
NZ Olympic Committee CEO Nicki Nicol extended her congratulations to the athletes.
“We’re really pleased to have an exciting swim team heading to the Games with two World Champions to lead the charge. We wish the athletes all the best with the rest of their training and we look forward to seeing them pull on the fern and represent New Zealand in Paris.”
We would also like to congratulate the four coaches who have been selected for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Lars Humer (Swim Dunedin) will be on the team for his second consecutive Olympic Games having coached three swimmers on to the Olympic team (Caitlin Deans, Erika Fairweather and Kane Follows). David Lyles (Phoenix Aquatics) returns to the Olympic Games having coached Hazel Ouwehand to her first Olympic Games. Mitch Nairn (Club 37) and Michael Weston (Coast) will coach at their first Olympic Games having coached Lewis Clareburt and Cameron Gray respectively on to the team.
A massive congratulations to our team selected, their coaches and their support team. We look forward to cheering you on at the Olympic Games with the swimming held from July 27th to August 4th at the Paris La Defense Arena, the largest indoor events venue in Europe.
Team Selected
Name | Club | Coach |
Lewis Clareburt | Club 37 | Mitch Nairn |
Caitlin Deans | Neptune & Swim Dunedin | Lars Humer |
Erika Fairweather | Neptune & Swim Dunedin | Lars Humer |
Kane Follows | Neptune & Swim Dunedin | Lars Humer |
Cameron Gray | Coast | Michael Weston |
Hazel Ouwehand | Phoenix Aquatics | David Lyles |
Eve Thomas | Coast (& St Peter's Western) | Dean Boxall |
Taiko Torepe-Ormsby | Wharenui (& University of Wisconsin) | Cauli Bedran |
Laticia Transom | Club 37 (& Brisbane Grammar) | Bobby Jovanovich |
Name | Club/Organisation | Team Role |
Gary Francis | Swimming NZ | Team Leader |
Lars Humer | Swim Dunedin | Coach |
David Lyles | Phoenix Aquatics | Coach |
Mitch Nairn | Club 37 | Coach |
Michael Weston | Coast | Coach |
Matt Ingram | HPSNZ | Performance Analyst |
Graeme Maw * | Swimming NZ | Team Manager (Mallorca) |
Alex Lowen * | Swimming NZ | Team Physio |
Vijay Vallabh * | Swimming NZ | Team Physio |
*These three will be part of the team at the preparation camp in Mallorca before the team travels to Paris for the Olympic Games
Swimmer Events
Lewis Clareburt
Men's 200m Individual Medley
Men's 400m Individual Medley
Men's 200m Butterfly **
Caitlin Deans
Women's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay
Erika Fairweather
Women’s 200m Freestyle
Women's 400m Freestyle
Women's 800m Freestyle
Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay
Kane Follows
Men's 200m Backstroke
Cameron Gray
Men's 100m Freestyle
Hazel Ouwehand
Women's 100m Butterfly
Eve Thomas
Women's 400m Freestyle
Women's 800m Freestyle
Women's 1500m Freestyle
Women's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay
Taiko Torepe-Ormsby
Men's 50m Freestyle
Laticia-Leigh Transom
Women's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay
**Lewis Clareburt has been granted permission to start in the Men's 200m Butterfly
