Latest news with #LifesavingWorldChampionships
Scoop
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Triple Medal Haul For New Zealand Lifesaving Athletes At The World Games
Three of New Zealand's most accomplished lifesaving athletes have proudly represented Aotearoa at The World Games this August, returning with an impressive haul of medals and memories that will last a lifetime. The World Games, held this year in Chengdu, China, is one of the world's most prestigious non-Olympic international multi-sport events. For lifesaving sport, Pool Rescue is the sole discipline contested, and qualification standards are incredibly high, making the event a true showcase of the world's best. Flying the flag for New Zealand were Zoe Crawford, Madison Kidd, and Fergus Eadie, all of whom are current or recent world record holders in their respective events. Backed by a tight-knit team including Black Fins Campaign Lead Steve Kent and official Johnny Clough, the athletes delivered outstanding performances on the global stage. Fergus Eadie was unstoppable in the men's 50m manikin carry, becoming the only male athlete to break the 28-second barrier. His dominant swim earned him a commanding gold medal, a testament to his preparation under coaches Tom Lowe and Michael Weston. In the women's 100m manikin tow, Zoe Crawford powered her way to gold, while teammate Madison Kidd secured a bronze medal, reinforcing the strength and depth of New Zealand's female lifesaving squad. Hearing the New Zealand national anthem ring out twice in the stadium was a moment of immense pride, marking not only an individual triumph for these athletes but also a collective win for the sport in Aotearoa. Zoe Crawford is currently studying Sport and Recreation at AUT and trains with Coast Swim Club. Originally from Mairangi Bay, she transitioned from hockey into elite pool rescue swimming and broke the junior world record in the 100m manikin tow in 2023. She went on to win the senior world title and break the senior record in 2024. Zoe is known for her relentless drive and team-first attitude and brings energy and focus to every race. Madison Kidd began lifesaving at age 7 at Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club and now also competes for Northcliffe in Australia. A world record holder in the 100m Tow, which she broke three times in 2024, Madison previously competed at The World Games in 2017. She returned this year as a seasoned competitor and earned a well-deserved bronze medal. Fergus Eadie started at Muriwai and now races for Mairangi Bay under coach Tom Lowe while working full-time at Pacific Channel in Auckland. He made his Black Fins debut at the 2022 Lifesaving World Championships, earning gold and bronze across multiple events. In 2024, he broke two world records and won gold in both the 50m and 100m carry events. Fergus is known for his explosive speed and calm execution under pressure. Guiding the team was Steve Kent, a three-time World Champion, 2012 Olympian, and longtime Black Fins leader. With eight world championship campaigns under his belt, Steve brought a wealth of experience to the squad. Also supporting the campaign was Johnny Clough, who attended as an official through a High Performance Sport New Zealand Prime Minister's Scholarship. His ongoing development toward a Level 3 international official adds depth to New Zealand's presence in the sport. Reflecting on the campaign, Steve Kent said, 'I'm proud of this small team. We have had to adapt to different challenges in our build up, and I thank them for their dedication.' This campaign wasn't just about medals. It was about continuing New Zealand's legacy in lifesaving sport and supporting athletes who embody the values of excellence, resilience, and teamwork. Following this international success, the team now looks ahead to the Aon New Zealand Pool Rescue Championships in September, where the next generation of lifesaving athletes will no doubt be inspired by these incredible performances.
Scoop
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Triple Medal Haul For New Zealand Lifesaving Athletes At The World Games
Press Release – Surf Life Saving New Zealand Three of New Zealand's most accomplished lifesaving athletes have proudly represented Aotearoa at The World Games this August, returning with an impressive haul of medals and memories that will last a lifetime. The World Games, held this year in Chengdu, China, is one of the world's most prestigious non-Olympic international multi-sport events. For lifesaving sport, Pool Rescue is the sole discipline contested, and qualification standards are incredibly high, making the event a true showcase of the world's best. Flying the flag for New Zealand were Zoe Crawford, Madison Kidd, and Fergus Eadie, all of whom are current or recent world record holders in their respective events. Backed by a tight-knit team including Black Fins Campaign Lead Steve Kent and official Johnny Clough, the athletes delivered outstanding performances on the global stage. Fergus Eadie was unstoppable in the men's 50m manikin carry, becoming the only male athlete to break the 28-second barrier. His dominant swim earned him a commanding gold medal, a testament to his preparation under coaches Tom Lowe and Michael Weston. In the women's 100m manikin tow, Zoe Crawford powered her way to gold, while teammate Madison Kidd secured a bronze medal, reinforcing the strength and depth of New Zealand's female lifesaving squad. Hearing the New Zealand national anthem ring out twice in the stadium was a moment of immense pride, marking not only an individual triumph for these athletes but also a collective win for the sport in Aotearoa. Zoe Crawford is currently studying Sport and Recreation at AUT and trains with Coast Swim Club. Originally from Mairangi Bay, she transitioned from hockey into elite pool rescue swimming and broke the junior world record in the 100m manikin tow in 2023. She went on to win the senior world title and break the senior record in 2024. Zoe is known for her relentless drive and team-first attitude and brings energy and focus to every race. Madison Kidd began lifesaving at age 7 at Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club and now also competes for Northcliffe in Australia. A world record holder in the 100m Tow, which she broke three times in 2024, Madison previously competed at The World Games in 2017. She returned this year as a seasoned competitor and earned a well-deserved bronze medal. Fergus Eadie started at Muriwai and now races for Mairangi Bay under coach Tom Lowe while working full-time at Pacific Channel in Auckland. He made his Black Fins debut at the 2022 Lifesaving World Championships, earning gold and bronze across multiple events. In 2024, he broke two world records and won gold in both the 50m and 100m carry events. Fergus is known for his explosive speed and calm execution under pressure. Guiding the team was Steve Kent, a three-time World Champion, 2012 Olympian, and longtime Black Fins leader. With eight world championship campaigns under his belt, Steve brought a wealth of experience to the squad. Also supporting the campaign was Johnny Clough, who attended as an official through a High Performance Sport New Zealand Prime Minister's Scholarship. His ongoing development toward a Level 3 international official adds depth to New Zealand's presence in the sport. Reflecting on the campaign, Steve Kent said, 'I'm proud of this small team. We have had to adapt to different challenges in our build up, and I thank them for their dedication.' This campaign wasn't just about medals. It was about continuing New Zealand's legacy in lifesaving sport and supporting athletes who embody the values of excellence, resilience, and teamwork. Following this international success, the team now looks ahead to the Aon New Zealand Pool Rescue Championships in September, where the next generation of lifesaving athletes will no doubt be inspired by these incredible performances.
Los Angeles Times
08-08-2025
- Climate
- Los Angeles Times
National lifeguard championships roll into Huntington Beach
The United States Lifesaving Assn. National Lifeguard Championships have returned to Huntington State Beach for the first time since 2010. Surf City, in turn, was pumping out sizable waves Thursday, almost like an invitation or challenge to those visiting from around the country, depending on perspective. 'The conditions are pretty rough,' said Skip Prosser, USLA scoring director and a lifeguard in nearby Long Beach. 'I mean, the waves are probably 5 to 6 foot … There were a lot of wide open eyes and jaws dropping from the East Coast people. They're not used to this at all.' Still, the show has gone on at the competition, which is taking place on the beach between Beach Boulevard and Newland Street. First came the National Junior Lifeguard Championships on Wednesday, which had about 300 young competitors in a variety of races and skills. The National Lifeguard Championships, which Prosser said has 450 to 500 competitors, started Thursday and continues through Sunday. Bailey Noel of Delaware, attending the national competition with Sussex County Lifesaving, took first place in his men's surf race heat on Thursday morning. 'This surf is a little bit bigger, for sure, than what we're used to in Delaware,' said Noel, 38. 'But we all love the sport of surf lifesaving, and we train all year. This is just a little bit of fun. 'It does put things into perspective. If a person is out there and they need help, we have to be ready at a moment's notice, just go out there and help them. But we train for it all year, so we're ready.' Due to the conditions, the surfboat races were postponed a day — 'In the interest of safety, the officials said no,' Prosser said. Montana George, a lifeguard at Huntington State Beach, said she was looking forward to competing at what amounted to a home meet. The 22-year-old from Carson is representing the California State Lifeguard Assn., which has a sizable presence with more than 80 competitors at nationals. 'From what I was told from some of the older guys, we've never had surf this big at nationals before,' said George, who is competing in her third national championships and also competed in the Lifesaving World Championships in Australia last year. 'Having it at Huntington just makes everyone excited, I think … It's been a big summer in Huntington, but last week we had like half-a-foot waves. As much as I've had the advantage of being here all summer, training last week I had no surf to train in. It's super fun to see how fast the conditions can change. I think today or [Friday] is going to be the biggest day, and it's going to be a little bit smaller on Saturday.' The national championships will continue with beach course races on the sand, as well as water course and boat and ski course events. Prosser said the event was a culmination of all of the work the lifeguards have already put into prior competitions, as well as keeping in shape for their jobs on the beach. 'It's good, it's a time to see old friends,' he said. 'Every year I get to see people that I don't see for a year, I don't talk to for a year. I have people from my own chapter that are meeting friends here, and they're going to team up on events that you can team up. It's just the camaraderie … There's a lot of friendships that go back a long, long time.'
