2025 World Championships
- July 27 – August 3, 2025 (pool swimming)
- Singapore, Singapore
- World Aquatics Championships Arena
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Central
- Live Results
- SwimSwam Preview Index
New Zealand swimmer Lewis Clareburt is no stranger to international podiums, having become world champion in the men’s 400m IM last year in Doha.
Before that, he earned gold in the 200m fly at the 2022 Commonwealth Games among his elite competition medals.
The 26-year-old swimmer is looking to add to his resume with potential hardware in Singapore, competing in the 200m fly, 200m IM and 400m IM.
Speaking to RNZ recently, the Club 37 ace said, although his training hasn’t been exactly to plan, he’s ready to put up his best at this year’s Worlds.
The Mitch Nairn-coached star said, “Leading into Paris last year I was swimming really well every single day, but this year it hasn’t been as consistent and I think mentally it has made me a little bit stronger because I am failing more often than not, which has been really cool.”
Clareburt’s highest finish in Paris came in the 400m IM where he placed 6th overall.
“Mitch has been giving me sets that sometimes are harder than I can handle.
“Sometimes I can’t physically make it or hit the times I would like to hit. We have been trying to find ways in which I can test myself differently.”
Regarding his mentality heading into Singapore, Clareburt said, “I am just there to have a good time and hopefully swim fast – and get back to my fastest times.
“I think I am going to be in the mix, so that will be cool.”
Clareburt pulled up roots in late 2023, breaking up with longtime coach Gary Hollywood to move from Wellington to Auckland. At the time, he cited inconsistencies in pool time as a major factor for his move to the city of Auckland in his lead-up to the 2024 Olympic Games.
Our SwimSwam previews for Clareburt’s events didn’t pin him for finals in any of them but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a dark horse ready to make waves and potentially upset some of the top contenders.
His lifetime bests in his events include 1:57.27 in the 200m IM (2021), 4:08.70 in the 400m IM (2022) and 1:55.60 in the 200m fly (2022), times that, if he can reach again, would put him in contention.
Currently, he ranks 19th in the world in the 400m IM, courtesy of the 4:13.06 he notched at April’s Australian National Championships.
