2023 NEW ZEALAND OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Saturday, April 1st – Wednesday, April 5th
- Sir Owen G. Glenn National Aquatic Center, Auckland, New Zealand
- LCM (50m)
- World Championships Qualifier
- Selection Criteria
- Meet Site
- Psych Sheets
- Day 1 Recap
On day three of the 2023 New Zealand Open Championships, Erika Fairweather swam a national record-breaking 4:00.62 400 freestyle. That time was a slight improvement upon her former record of 4:00.97, which she swam earlier this year at the South Island Championships in Invercargill. Her best time before that was the 4:02.28 she swam at the Tokyo Olympics.
Split Comparison
| Fairweather – April 2023 | Fairweather – March 2023 | |
| 100 | 58.10 | 59.04 |
| 200 | 1:59.40 (1:01.30) | 2:00.55 |
| 300 | 3:00.92 (1:01.52) | 3:01.82 |
| 400 | 4:00.62 (59.70) | 4:00.97 (59.15) |
When she hit that 4:00.97 Fairweather became the eighth female in history to go under 4:01 in the event and she’s now getting close to becoming the 5th in history to break 4 minutes. She is now the 6th-fastest in history behind Summer McIntosh, who recently set a 3:56.08 world record, Ariarne Titmus, Katie Ledecky, Federica Pellegrini, and Joanne Jackson.
All-time Performers – Women’s Long Course 400 Freestyle
- Summer McIntosh – 3:56.08 (2023)
- Ariarne Titmus – 3:56.40 (2022)
- Katie Ledecky – 3:56.46 (2016)
- Federica Pellegrini – 3:59.15 (2009)
- Joanne Jackson – 4:00.60 (2009)
- Erika Fairweather – 4:00.62 (2023)
- Leah Smith – 4:00.65 (2016)
- Rebecca Adlington – 4:00.79 (2009)
The three fastest swimmers in history, who have all hit 3:56, might face off this summer in Fukuoka and will likely have a major showdown at Paris 2024. Fairweather, however, has been inching her way toward the 4:00 barrier recently and is quickly rising in the ranks. If she keeps improving, Fairweather could work her way into contention for a major international medal in this event.
With her swim here, Fairweather qualified for the World Championships by getting under the FINA A cut of 4:10.57 by almost 10 seconds. Her New Zealand teammate Eve Thomas hit a 4:08.40, adding the 400 freestyle to her lineup after making the team in the 1500 freestyle on day one.
This is Fairweather’s second event win at the New Zealand Open Championships and her second national record. Earlier in the week she posted a 1:55.44 in the 200 freestyle to get under 1:56 for the first time.
Test
(Move along folks, nothing to see here)
Psh didn’t approve my LCD Sound System reference
When she hits 3:56 should we start claiming her as “Oceanian” like the “North Americans” have done with Summer? Lol
It is tradition between the big and small in the Anglosphere.
Good New Zealander = Australian
Good Canadian = American
Good Scot/Welsh/N.Irish = British
Good English = choose your own Biblical term for greatness
I could add more, but it would be too controversial.
I’m trying to think of how many other events have a leaderboard like this with 2 or 3 swimmers in a different league of their own, so you have situations like this when a historically incredible time looks pedestrian since Ledecky’s done it how or better how many times already?
As I spell it out this thought seems less profound, certainly every event has looked like this at some point, but nevertheless
M100 fly maybe: don’t know about rn but in Tokyo at least Dressel and Milak were in a league of their own
W100 back: a 58.3 would’ve won you gold at almost any meet prior to 2021 with a silver in the rest. A time that would’ve been the WR 5-6 years ago might not even medal anymore.
Possibly the women’s 200 back too, it’ll depend on how US trials goes this year tho. Bacon and White are on the cusp of breaking 2:05 and obviously Regan Smith has already done it and has been looking very good since starting at ASU so maybe we’ll see a potential 2:04 high/2:05 low miss out on qualifying for worlds completely.… Read more »
Puts in perspective how good Erika is (bar the generational talents and OLY gold in the top 3)
McIntosh, Titmus, Ledecky, Fairweather, Bingje, Pallister. Top six favorites I would think?
The top 3 medal race will be a blast to watch in that 4free
Great swim by Erica, while Summer has taken the limelight in recent time, that is so close to going under 4 mins.
Same as 16 min in W1500LCM is not a barrier of quality swim anymore the swimming under 4m in 400 FR is must do thing now and isn’t a life time achievement goal.
Same is going with 200 FR – the 1:53 isn’t an exotic club anymore but the place where contenders for the podium live.
Ah Yozhik dismissing another phenomenal female swimmer just to -unnecessarily and unneeded- lift up Ledecky.
Really every reply you gonna mentioned Ledecky name into this.
How old is Erika? I didn’t see her age in the article.
19 and a couple months
What time will it take just to make the final at worlds? 4:04 maybe?
I think it will take a 4.02 given the increased depth. On the men’s side it’s always very tight with 3.45/3.46 needed and then you only see two or three seconds dropped for the final. if the women’s event goes the same way it could even be faster than a 4.02.
Damn if it’s a 4:02 just to make the final then Leah Smith probably won’t make it.
345 and under for the mens final at Paris for sure