Lewis Clareburt Ends NZL Championships With 4:09.47 400 IM

2026 NEW ZEALAND SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, May 13th – Sunday, May 17th
• Sir Owen G. Glenn National Aquatic Centre
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• Day 1 Recap/Day 2 Recap/Day 3 Recap/Day 4 Recap
• Results
• Livestream

The 2026 New Zealand Swimming Championships concluded on a high note, as 26-year-old Lewis Clareburt put up one of the best 400m IM performances of his career.

The United swimmer stopped the clock tonight at a mark of 4:09.47 to dominate the field, getting to the wall over 10 seconds ahead of his competition.

17-year-old Ariel Muchirahondo was the next-closest swimmer in 4:20.28, followed by 16-year-old Declan Broadfoot‘s time of 4:36.54.

Clareburt owns the national record with his PB of 4:08.70, a time he put on the books en route to becoming the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion. His swim here represents the 3rd-fastest of his career and he remains ranked as the 6th-swiftest performer in the world this season.

Clareburt ranks highest among the Commonwealth Games-bound athletes but appears primed to repeat as the gold medalist. His primary competition will be William Petric of Australia and Max Litchfield of Great Britain.

Olympic teammate Erika Fairweather also concluded her campaign on top, taking the women’s 800m freestyle in a time of 8:26.12.

That was within striking distance of her season-best 8:25.39 notched at February’s Vic Open to rank 11th in the world at the moment.

Behind Fairweather this evening was Eve Thomas, who touched in 8:28.99, followed by Caitlin Dean, who captured bronze in 8:35.61.

Fairweather already produced a new national record of 1:55.06 en route to winning the women’s 200m freestyle earlier in this competition.

Additional victories included last night’s 100m freestyle winner Cameron Gray doubling up with a 50m fly gold. The 22-year-old swimmer hit 23.91 to lead a pair of his United teammates, with Jack Hendy snagging silver in 23.97 and Carter Swift nabbing bronze in 24.13.

Chelsey Edwards proved too quick to catch in the women’s 50m free, getting to the wall first in 25.09.

That denied a pair of teenagers the gold, as Australia’s 17-year-old Maya Zunker settled for silver in 25.47, followed by 19-year-old Zoe Pedersen, whose time of 25.75 garnered her the bronze medal.