Unfinished business drives swimmer Erika Fairweather’s Glasgow mission

Erika Fairweather will compete in her second Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Struck down by Covid-19 before Birmingham, New Zealand swimmer Erika Fairweather’s first Commonwealth Games was not a fruitful one by her world-class standards.

Finishing fifth in the 200m freestyle and fourth in the 400m freestyle, a compromised Fairweather left plenty in the pool.

However, now set for her second Games, Fairweather has her eyes firmly on the podium.

“It’s exciting to kind of go into this one, hopefully fingers crossed, with no illness so I can put my best foot forward. My goal last time was to get a medal and obviously it kind of inhibited my performances a little bit, so going into this one I’m fairly confident that a medal might be on the cards.”

Fairweather is the headline name of a 13-strong NZ swimming team announced this week for the Glasgow Games.

New Zealand’s first swimming world champion in more than a decade, Fairweather claimed the 400m freestyle title at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha in 2024.

She admits the pressure has mounted due to her success.

“There’s definitely a target but it’s nice to kind of go there and race the best in the world. I’m feeling really great going into this Comm Games. I definitely have a lot more experience than I did, so trying to use that to my advantage. The team’s looking really good. There’s a real mix of people who’ve been on teams before and rookies, so it’ll be nice to have that kind of diversity in the team.”

In Glasgow, Fairweather is set for a busy schedule.

She has been selected for the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle events and will also play a key role in both the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay and the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay.

“I love relays, I’m really lucky that I get to be a part of both of them this time; it just adds to your programme, it definitely doesn’t take away. I’d love to throw down some really fast times and walk away with medals or as many medals as I can in my hand. I’m not entirely sure what the picture looks like yet, but as we get closer to the game, it’s going to become clear.”

Fairweather has made a number of changes since 2022, making the move from her home in Dunedin to join the North Shore Swim Club under Graham Hill.

“It’s definitely made me a more rounded athlete, I’m a bit more adaptable and I’ve learnt to do things different ways and I think showing myself that has really played benefit to my swimming because there’s never going to be a perfect environment and things might change on the day so now being able to change and adapt to those things, I’m really proud of that.”

The young superstar said it was a bit of a strange feeling being among the more experienced New Zealand swimmers heading to the Games despite still only being 21.

However, she is embracing the added responsibility of leading the team.

“I used to be the baby of the team but not so much anymore, and I think just with my experience it kind of bumps me up the chain a bit, so hoping to help the younger ones out as well.”

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