Latest news with #ErikaFairweather
Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Fairweather qualifies for world champs with stunning swim
Erika Fairweather. Olympians Erika Fairweather, Eve Thomas and Caitlin Deans have all recorded world championship qualifying times in an impressive 800m freestyle final on the opening day of the New Zealand Swimming Championships in Auckland. Fairweather showcased the form which saw her reach four Olympic finals last year. The 21-year-old led the race from start to finish, recording a time of 8:21.67s to go well under the world champs qualification time of 8:34.62s. Eve Thomas pipped Caitlin Deans for second place with a of 8:29.32, just over half a second ahead of Thomas. "It means so much to me to make that qualification time," Deans said. "Everyone swam such a good race so I'm really stoked. Sharing the pool with Eve and Erika and having them to push me along has made me a better athlete and got me to where I am and it's great that we all swam under that time." North Shore's Louis Clark won the men's 1500m freestyle in a time that qualified him for the 3-kilometre knockout Open Water event at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in July. Another athlete to punch his ticket to a world event was 18-year-old Igor Russanov who qualified for the World Junior Champs with his fifth place finish in the 50m Freestyle final. Sixteen-year-old Ariel Muchirahondo continued his fine run of form, picking up the first long course open national title of his career, storming home to win the men's 400m Individual Medley. In the multi class events Viking Swim Club's Gaby Smith took out the women's 100m Breaststroke final. The SB9 swimmer went under the World Para Swimming Championships qualification time. In the men's 100m Breaststroke Joshua Willmer finished third to break his SB8 New Zealand record twice in one day and go under the World Championships qualification time. In the women's 50m Freestyle Chelsey Edwards added another national title to her name, while Zoe Pedersen finished third setting a New Zealand 18-years record and going under the World Junior Championships qualification time. Olympian Hazel Ouwehand retained her national title in the women's 100m Butterfly. More than 350 athletes are competing at the championships.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Fairweather wins stunning 800 freestyle final to qualify for World Champs
New Zealand swimmer Erika Fairweather. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Olympians Erika Fairweather, Eve Thomas and Caitlin Deans have all recorded World Championship qualifying times in an impressive 800m Freestyle final on the opening day of the New Zealand Swimming Championships in Auckland. Fairweather showcased the form which saw her reach four Olympic finals last year. The 21-year-old led the race from start to finish, recording a time of 8:21.67s to go well under the World Champs qualification time of 8:34.62s. Eve Thomas pipped Caitlin Deans for second place with a of 8:29.32, just over half a second ahead of Thomas. "It means so much to me to make that qualification time," Deans said. "Everyone swam such a good race so I'm really stoked. Sharing the pool with Eve and Erika and having them to push me along has made me a better athlete and got me to where I am and it's great that we all swam under that time." North Shore's Louis Clark won the men's 1500m Freestyle in a time that qualified him for the 3-kilometre knockout Open Water event at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in July. Another athlete to punch his ticket to a world event was 18-year-old Igor Russanov who qualified for the World Junior Champs with his fifth place finish in the 50m Freestyle final. Sixteen-year-old Ariel Muchirahondo continued his fine run of form, picking up the first long course open national title of his career, storming home to win the men's 400m Individual Medley. In the multi class events Viking Swim Club's Gaby Smith took out the women's 100m Breaststroke final. The SB9 swimmer went under the World Para Swimming Championships qualification time. In the men's 100m Breaststroke Joshua Willmer finished third to break his SB8 New Zealand record twice in one day and go under the World Championships qualification time. In the women's 50m Freestyle Chelsey Edwards added another national title to her name, while Zoe Pedersen finished third setting a New Zealand 18-years record and going under the World Junior Championships qualification time. Olympian Hazel Ouwehand retained her national title in the women's 100m Butterfly. More than 350 athletes are competing at the Championships. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Olympian Erika Fairweather moves to Auckland
Olympian Erika Fairweather has moved to a new city, with a new coach and new training partners as she sets her sights on getting on the podium in Los Angeles in 2028. Fairweather will be competing her in new home pool - the National Aquatic Centre in Albany - during the national swimming championships. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
'Small things that make big things happen': Swimmer Erika Fairweather has eyes on Olympic prize
New Zealand's Erika Fairweather reacts after winning the final of the women's 400m freestyle swimming event during the 2024 World Aquatics Championships at Aspire Dome in Doha on February 11, 2024. Photo: MANAN VATSYAYANA While much has changed in a short span for Erika Fairweather, her ambition to win gold hasn't. It's a new city, new coach and new team for the Kiwi swimmer, having made the move from Dunedin to Auckland earlier this year, but it's an old goal continuing to drive her. With the taste of bitter Olympic disappointment still fresh, where she was a mere 26 one hundredths of a second off the podium, her eyes are already on Los Angeles 2028. "Obviously I fell short of that podium by just a little smidge this time, but I think it's kind of motivated me not to miss it again. So hopefully, LA, we'll lock it in." Her 400m freestyle final was dubbed 'the race of the century', as it included fellow champions Katie Ledecky, Ariarne Titmus and Summer McIntosh. "That field has been absolutely stacked and I'm sure it will continue to be for years to come, so just to be a part of it is amazing." Fairweather admits life in the city of sails has been an adjustment. "I think just being away from family and friends. In Dunedin, everyone's really close so having that bit of distance there is hard but I'm really enjoying the change in environment. It's definitely a lot warmer up here. We have this amazing facility to swim at and the high performance centre's just across the road as well. So all those things are looking really good for my performance." As well as family and friends, the culinary delights of the deep south have also left a void. "I haven't found any cheese rolls up here. It's the 'southern sushi', so it's not as common up here. That's the one thing that ... I need to locate." The move was prompted by long time Dunedin based coach Lars Hume stepping back from international competition. "It's really cool swimming with a different bunch of swimmers in a different pool. Obviously no two coaches are going to do it the same way, so just kind of getting used to that. I mean you take your speed and your technique with you wherever you go, so just making sure that's refined." Fairweather will be one of 350 swimmers taking part at the NZ Swimming Championships in Auckland this week. "I'm going in unrested, so it'll just be a bit of fun. Racing at home is always nice in front of a crowd so it'll be enjoyable." New coach Graham Hill at North Shore Swimming Club said both he and the squad are elated by the addition of Fairweather. "She is a hardworking athlete who knows what she wants and I like the way she approaches her swimming at the moment, I think there are some changes that she's made me aware of and hopefully it's changes for the good and we've targeted a few things that we'll work on over the next year or so to improve it. Small things that make big things happen." NZ Swimming Championships Wednesday May 21st to Sunday May 25th. Sir Owen Glenn National Aquatic Centre Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
New setting learning curve for Fairweather
Erika Fairweather. Photo: BW Media Olympian Erika Fairweather has not handed in her Dunedin card just yet. But she will be swimming for the North Shore Swimming Club and against some of her old team-mates at the national championships beginning in Auckland today. The 21-year-old moved to the City of Sails earlier this year. Her decision to relocate came after her former coach, Lars Humer, announced he was stepping back from international coaching. She has linked up with national head coach Graham Hill and is enjoying the training environment. "I guess it's still a major learning curve at the moment," she said. "You know, I worked with Lars back home for seven years, so coming in and having a new coach now for only three months, we're still learning our way around each other. "But I'm having a really good time with it, and I think it's going to be a really positive relationship going forward." Fairweather's main focus is the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. But there are the world championships later this year and the 2026 Commonwealth Games to prepare for as well. "I guess this year is kind of just ... I want to call it almost an adjustment year. "[I'm] kind of getting used to everything new that's going on. "I don't think it's going to affect my performances at all. "I think I'll still be performing at the top, but just kind of allowing myself that room is what I'm really mindful of at the moment." She misses her old Otago team-mates, but it is also nice to have "a bunch of different people around me", including one young man, "who gives me a run for my money all the time". "Yeah, it's going to be definitely a weird one [racing them]. "I think I still haven't gotten used to wearing the North Shore logo. "That might take a little bit of time, but yeah, excited to race for my new club. "I'm a Dunedin girl at heart. I don't think you could ever take that out of me. "Definitely won't be a Jafa any time soon."
