School swimmers Galloway and Fairweather Youth Olympics-bound

Two Current New Zealand  secondary school swimmers will be competing in the pool at the upcoming Youth Olympic Games in Argentina.

Gina Galloway from Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland  and Erika Fairweather from Kavanagh College  in Dunedin are the two swimmers selected.

They are part of a four-strong team that also includes Zac Reid who is in his first year studying at Massey University and Michael Pickett who now attends school in Brisbane.  
​
Galloway (aged 17) is the granddaughter of Ngaire Galloway, who at 93 years old, is New Zealand’s oldest living Olympian, and like Galloway senior competes in the backstroke.
 
 Galloway junior won a bronze medal at the 2017 Youth Commonwealth Games and will compete in the women’s 50m, 100m, 200m backstroke and 100m butterfly events.

“Growing up listening to her stories from her experiences and trips in swimming and the friends she's made through the sport all over the world has been really inspiring for me,” said Gina Galloway.
 
Otago’s Erika Fairweather (aged 14, Kavanagh College) will likely be one of the youngest athletes, if not the youngest athlete, competing at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games as her birthday (31/12/2003) is the cut-off date for eligible athletes.
 
Fairweather who now holds 12 national age-group records, including the girls 14 years 200m and 400m freestyle short course records set last weekend at the Otago Winter Championships.
 
“It feels pretty unreal and I am very honored that I get this opportunity to represent my country at this level,” Fairweather said.
 
Fairweather will compete in the women’s 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle events.
 
Zac Reid (18 years, Massey University) who was a double gold medalist from the 2017 Youth Commonwealth Games will compete in the men’s 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle events.
 
The Taranaki swimmer won his first New Zealand Open Championship last month by beating Gold Coast Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Lewis Clareburt in the men’s 400m freestyle final. Reid went on to also win the 200m, 800m and 1500m New Zealand titles.
 
“I made this a goal a year ago and now being selected is an amazing feeling as I have put a lot of work and dedication in trying to gain selection,” says Reid.
 
The fastest 15-year-old freestyle sprinter in Australasia rounds out the New Zealand swimming team with Michael Pickett (15 years, St Peters Lutheran College) lining up in the men’s 50m and 100m freestyle events.
 
Earlier this year Pickett relocated to Brisbane to train at one of Australia’s most prestigious clubs, St Peter’s Western. Under the guidance of Kiwi coach John Gatfield, Pickett has improved steadily.
 
In April, Pickett blitzed the field to win the boys’ 15 years 50m freestyle at the Australian age-group championships.
 
Just last month Pickett finished second at the New Zealand Opens Championships in the men’s 50m and 100m freestyle to book his ticket to Buenos Aires.
 
“This selection is awesome news and gives me real confidence for my future. The competition's going to be a great stepping stone for the end goal of competing at an Olympic Games,” said Pickett.

The 15-year-old also highlighted his specific targets for the Youth Olympic Games.
 
“To qualify for the final, I want to go under 50 seconds for the first time in the 100m and get into 22 seconds for the 50m.”
 
New Zealand won two bronze medals in swimming at the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games to Gabrielle Fa’amausili (50m backstroke) and Bobbi Gichard (100m backstroke).
 
The Youth Olympic Games will run from October 6-18th in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
 
Chelsey Edwards (women’s 50m, 100m, 200m freestyle) and Quinton Hurley (men’s 200m, 400m, 800m freestyle) have been conditionally selected as non-travelling reserves.

---