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Muchirahondo & Bell on the Podium at Junior Pan Pacific Championships

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Competition Wrap – 2026 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships


New Zealand’s next generation of swimmers produced a strong showing at the 2026 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Vancouver, returning home with two medals, six New Zealand age records and 23 personal best times.


Ariel Muchirahondo (Swim Rotorua – coached by Aidan Withington) set the tone for the New Zealand team, claiming silver in the men’s 100m backstroke in a new 17 years NZ age record of 54.63 on the opening day of racing – taking down Corey Main’s standard from 2012. Muchirahondo delivered a stellar performance across the day, lowering his personal best times by almost two seconds to secure his place on the podium.


The following day, Lucas Bell (Wharenui – coached by Carl Gordon) claimed bronze in the men’s 50m backstroke, producing a personal best of 25.66 in the final to tie for third place with Singapore’s Tedd Windsor-Chan in a tightly contested final.


Bell came into the competition seeded sixth in the event, marking a strong result for the Christchurch swimmer at his first major international competition.


Muchirahondo’s silver, followed by Bell’s bronze, marked the first time since 2009 that two New Zealand swimmers have won individual medals at the same Junior Pan Pacific Championships.


Fourteen-year-old Grayson Coulter (North Shore – coached by Graham Hill / Michelle Gillies) was also in fine form in Vancouver, producing five national age records across the four days of competition. Coulter broke the national age record in the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle events, with two records coming in the 200m, while also leading off the men’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay in a record-breaking 51.04.


Alyssa Lawson (Hamilton Aquatics / St Andrew's – coached by Ash Delaney) also produced a strong performance in a competitive women’s 50m freestyle championship final. Lawson finished fifth in a blistering 25.56, lowering her personal best by more than three tenths of a second and finishing less than 0.15 seconds from the podium in a closely contested final.


The team produced strong depth across the programme, with swimmers featuring in A finals across a range of events. Olivia Emmett, Bridie Quayle, Ariella Riley, Laura Menzies, Madeleine Wilson and Rui Hou also reached A finals, while a number of swimmers recorded personal best performances throughout the competition.


The New Zealand relay teams also provided valuable opportunities to build international racing experience. The women’s 4 x 200m and 4 x 100m freestyle relays both placed fifth, while the men’s 4 x 100m freestyle and 4 x 100m medley relays, alongside the mixed 4 x 100m medley relay, all finished sixth.


A few swimmers unfortunately withdrew from events throughout the competition due to a bug going through the team camp. The situation was closely monitored throughout the competition.


Head Coach Mat Woofe was pleased with the way the team responded to the challenges of international competition, highlighting the value of the experience for their ongoing development.

"The team did a great job in Vancouver and will take away a lot of learnings that will support their development towards senior representation. Although presented with challenges throughout the competition, I was really proud of how every team member stepped up, raced with aggression and represented the silver fern."

The Junior Pan Pacific Championships provided an important opportunity for the young New Zealand team to gain experience racing on the international stage, with the performances in Vancouver providing plenty of encouragement as the next generation continues to develop towards future international representation.



Congratulations to all of the swimmers, coaches and home clubs on their performances throughout the championships.








Results by Swimmer


Lucas Bell

  • Men's 100m backstroke – 9th place in A final (final: 56.12, heat: 56.12)

  • Men's 50m backstroke – bronze medal (final: 25.66 – PB, heat: 25.88)

  • Men's 200m backstroke – 9th place in B final (final: 2:08.92, heat: 2:08.98)

  • Men's 4 x 100m medley relay – 6th place (final: 3:47.81)


Paige Conley

  • Women's 1500m freestyle – 8th place (final: 17:22.78)

  • Women's 800m freestyle – 12th place (final: 9:09.73 – PB)


Grayson Coulter

  • Men's 200m freestyle – 6th place in B final (final: 1:51.50, heat: 1:51.80 – 2 x 14 yrs NZ age record & 2 x PB)

  • Men's 100m freestyle – 7th place in B final (final: 51.29, heat: 51.18 – 14 yrs NZ age record & PB)

  • Men's 400m freestyle – 25th place (heat: 4:05.58)

  • Men's 4 x 100m freestyle relay – 6th place (final: 3:28.45 – 14 yrs NZ age record & PB leading off relay in 51.04)

  • Men's 50m freestyle – 26th place (heat: 23.95 – 14 yrs NZ age record & PB)

  • Men's 4 x 100m medley relay – 6th place (final: 3:47.81)


Liam Curling

  • Men's 200m freestyle – 10th place in B final (final: 1:57.51, heat: 1:55.66)


Charlie Dickison

  • Men's 200m freestyle – 25th place (heat: 1:56.67)

  • Men's 400m freestyle – 28th place (heat: 4:12.80)

  • Men's 4 x 100m freestyle relay – 6th place (final: 3:28.45)

  • Men's 50m freestyle – 6th place in B final (final: 23.54, heat: 23.83 – 2 x PB)


Olivia Emmett

  • Women's 200m freestyle – 10th place in A final (final: 2:05.54, heat: 2:05.11)

  • Women's 4 x 200m freestyle relay – 5th place (final: 8:42.52)

  • Women's 400m freestyle – 8th place in A final (final: 4:26.71, heat: 4:26.53)

  • Women's 4 x 100m freestyle relay – 5th place (final: 3:50.33)


Tandia Fisher

  • Women's 200m freestyle – 9th place in B final (final: 2:08.32, heat: 2:09.69)

  • Women's 100m freestyle – 32nd place (heat: 59.54)

  • Women's 4 x 200m freestyle relay – 5th place (final: 8:42.52)

  • Women's 4 x 100m freestyle relay – 5th place (final: 3:50.33)

  • Women's 50m freestyle – 35th place (heat: 27.82)


Rui Hou

  • Men's 50m butterfly – 9th place in A final (final: 24.86, heat: 24.79 – PB)

  • Men's 100m freestyle – 37th place (heat: 52.96)

  • Men's 50m freestyle – 23rd place (heat: 23.82)


Alyssa Lawson

  • Women's 200m freestyle – 9th place in A final (final: 2:05.26, heat: 2:05.00)

  • Mixed 4 x 100m medley relay – 6th place (final: 4:03.20)

  • Women's 100m freestyle – 9th place in A final (final: 57.46, heat: 56.93)

  • Women's 50m backstroke – 5th place in B final (final: 29.98, heat: 30.00)

  • Women's 4 x 100m freestyle relay – 5th place (final: 3:50.33 – PB leading off the relay in 56.13)

  • Women's 50m freestyle – 5th place in A final (final: 25.56 – PB, heat: 25.95)


Laura Menzies

  • Women's 100m backstroke – 9th place in A final (final: 1:03.46, heat: 1:03.39)

  • Mixed 4 x 100m medley relay – 6th place (heat: 4:03.20)

  • Women's 50m backstroke – 3rd place in B final (final: 29.57, heat: 29.59 – 2 x PB)

  • Women's 200m backstroke – 8th place in B final (final: 2:19.53, heat: 2:19.73)

  • Women's 200m individual medley – 25th place (heat: 2:31.32)


Ariel Muchirahondo

  • Men's 100m backstroke – silver medal (final: 54.63 – 17 yrs NZ age record, heat: 55.20 – 2 x PB)


Te Paki

  • Men's 100m backstroke – 7th place in B final (final: 57.02, heat: 57.22 – 2 x PB)

  • Men's 100m freestyle – 42nd place (heat: 53.26 – PB)

  • Men's 50m backstroke – 3rd place in B final (final: 26.49 – PB, heat: 26.94)

  • Men's 200m backstroke – 6th place in B final (final: 2:04.36, heat: 2:06.61)

  • Men's 4 x 100m freestyle relay – 6th place (final: 3:28.45)

  • Men's 200m individual medley – 10th place in B final (final: 2:10.44 – PB, heat: 2:14.51)


Bridie Quayle

  • Women's 100m backstroke – 9th place in B final (final: 1:05.08, heat: 1:04.65)

  • Women's 50m backstroke – 9th place in B final (final: 30.63, heat: 30.74)

  • Women's 200m backstroke – 8th place in A final (final: 2:15.92, heat: 2:15.93)

  • Women's 200m individual medley – 10th place in A final (final: 2:23.40, heat: 2:21.76)


Ariella Riley

  • Women's 200m butterfly – 9th place in A final (final: 2:21.71, heat: 2:24.68)

  • Women's 400m individual medley – 10th place in A final (final: 4:58.06 – PB, heat: 5:07.81)

  • Women's 4 x 200m freestyle relay – 5th place (final: 8:42.52)

  • Women's 200m backstroke – 22nd place (heat: 2:29.73)

  • Women's 200m individual medley – 5th place in B final (final: 2:22.07, heat: 2:24.81)


Neo Salomonsson

  • Men's 50m butterfly – 5th place in B final (final: 25.20, heat: 25.22)

  • Mixed 4 x 100m medley relay – 6th place (final: 4:03.20)

  • Men's 100m freestyle – 45th place (heat: 53.39)

  • Men's 100m butterfly – 4th place in B final (final: 54.99, heat: 55.44)

  • Men's 4 x 100m freestyle relay – 6th place (final: 3:28.45)

  • Men's 4 x 100m medley relay – 6th place (final: 3:47.81)


Bruce Shen

  • Men's 100m backstroke – 26th place (heat: 1:00.44)


Rylind Wheeler

  • Mixed 4 x 100m medley relay – 6th place (final: 4:03.20)

  • Men's 100m breaststroke – 9th place in B final (final: 1:06.17, heat: 1:06.10)

  • Men's 50m breaststroke – 6th place in B final (final: 29.80, heat: 29.95)

  • Men's 4 x 100m medley relay – 6th place (final: 3:47.81)


Madeleine Wilson

  • Women's 50m butterfly – 10th place in A final (final: 28.87, heat: 28.04 – PB)

  • Women's 100m freestyle – 29th place (heat: 59.16)

  • Women's 4 x 200m freestyle relay – 5th place (final: 8:42.52)

  • Women's 4 x 100m freestyle relay – 5th place (final: 3:50.33)

  • Women's 50m freestyle – 8th place in B final (final: 26.87, heat: 26.69)


 

New Zealand team

Name
Club
Role

Mat Woofe

Hamilton Aquatics

Head Coach

Michelle Gillies

North Shore

Assistant Coach

Carl Gordon

Wharenui

Assistant Coach

Aidan Withington

Swim Rotorua

Assistant Coach

Lucas Bell

Wharenui

Carl Gordon

Paige Conley

Whanganui

Richard Gheel

Grayson Coulter

North Shore

Graham Hill / Michelle Gillies

Liam Curling

Coast

Wilrich Coetzee

Charlie Dickison

Nga Tai Tuatea a Taraika

Chris Paproski

Olivia Emmett

Swim Rotorua

Aidan Withington

Tandia Fisher

Wharenui

Carl Gordon

Rui Hou

Roskill

Josh Munro

Alyssa Lawson

Hamilton Aquatics

Ash Delaney (St Andrew's)

Laura Menzies

Wharenui

Carl Gordon

Ariel Muchirahondo

Swim Rotorua

Aidan Withington

Te Paki

Northwave

Monica Cooper

Bridie Quayle

Wharenui

Carl Gordon

Ariella Riley

Hamilton Aquatics

Mat Woofe

Neo Salomonsson

Kiwi & Swim Dunedin

Lars Humer

Bruce Shen

Phoenix Aquatics

David Lyles

Rylind Wheeler

Wharenui

Carl Gordon

Madeleine Wilson

SwimZone Racing

Frank Tourelle


 
 
 

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