Fairweather swam a personal best of more than a second and clocked a time of 3:59.59 seconds. This makes her only the fifth woman ever to clock less than four minutes in the 400m freestyle.
Fairweather, 19, took third place behind Australia’s Ariane Titmus, who set a world record time of 3:55.38 seconds, and USA’s Katie Ledecky, who finished second with 3:58.73 seconds.
“This race was one of the most hyped races of the meet, we had the world champion, the Olympic champion and the world record holder in the race,” said Fairweather.
“It was special to race with them and to be on the podium with them was so cool. I really wanted to break that four minute mark, that was my main goal, I had a bit of fun doing it and also managed to end up with a bronze medal around my neck, so I’m beyond thrilled.”
Fairweather was in fourth place for most of the race behind former world record holder Canadian Summer McIntosh.
Fairweather held on to the Canadian, swimming a massive 29.09 seconds in the last 50 meters to overtake her and take the bronze.
The medal is New Zealand’s first at a World Swimming Championships since Lewis Clareburt won bronze in the 400m individual medley in 2019. She is only the sixth New Zealander to win a medal at a World Swimming Championships.
Gary Francis, director of swimming for the New Zealand Olympic Pathway, said it was a phenomenal result.
“Erika and her coach Lars Humer worked extremely hard on this and we couldn’t be prouder of them,” said Francis.
“To compete internationally and become the fifth fastest woman of all time over 400m is a phenomenal result and the best start to our campaign.”
Four-time Commonwealth Games medalist Clareburt was the other New Zealander to make it to the final of day one of the championship.
In his favorite 400m medley, Clareburt swam 4:11.29 and finished sixth, while France’s Leon Marchand took gold with a world record time of 4:02.50.
Five New Zealanders will be in action tomorrow as the competition continues.
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