Erica Fairweather.
Photo: Photoshop Ltd 2021
New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather won bronze in the 400m freestyle at the World Aquatics Championships in Japan.
Fairweather swam a best time of more than a second and clocked a time of 3:59.59 seconds. She became only the fifth woman ever to clock less than four minutes in the 400m freestyle.
Fairweather, 19, from Dunedin, finished third behind Australia’s Ariane Titmus, who set a world record time of 3:55.38s, and USA’s Katie Ledecky, who finished second with 3:58.73s.
“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 4 minute mark, that was my main goal, I enjoyed it a bit and also managed to end up with a bronze medal around my neck, so I’m beyond thrilled.”
Fairweather spent most of the race in fourth place behind former world record holder, Canada’s Summer McIntosh.
Fairweather held on to the Canadian, swimming a time of 29.09 seconds in the last 50 meters to defeat 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 the New Zealand Olympic Pathway in swimming, says it’s 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 Lewis Clareburt was the other New Zealander to make it to the final of day one of the championship.
At the start is his favorite 400 m individual 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 on Monday as the competition continues.
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