Games Preview - Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
Our team of six Para swimmers, two coaches and two support staff have arrived in the village ahead of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Following a preparation camp held in Mallorca, the team is firing on all cylinders and ready to take on the world.
The team will be led by Cameron Leslie (Whangārei — coached by Tom Onley), who will also serve as one of two flag bearers for New Zealand at the opening ceremony. The three-time Paralympic gold medallist will be hoping to add to his collection at his fourth Paralympic Games.
The team consists of a mixture of experience and youth, with reigning Paralympic champion Tupou Neiufi (Pukekohe — coached by Sheldon Kemp) and three-time Paralympian Jesse Reynolds (Hamilton Aquatics & RPC Waikato — coached by Mat Woofe) joining Leslie with a wealth of experience to bring to the world's biggest stage. Three swimmers will be making their Paralympic debut, with Lili-Fox Mason (Wharenui — coached by Matt Houston), Gaby Smith (Vikings — coached by Todd Mason) and Josh Willmer (Pukekohe — coached by Sheldon Kemp) ready to perform in Paris.
Swimming NZ’s Paralympic Programme Lead and Head Coach, Simon Mayne, is pleased with the team's preparations ahead of the Games.
“The 12 day preparation camp in Mallorca was a great opportunity for the team to deal with the time difference and complete some intense training. I’ve seen positive progress in the athletes since the start of the camp.”
Mayne has been impressed with Paris since arriving in the past few days.
“It’s only a short flight into Paris to begin life in the village. The pool at La Defense Arena is amazing and all the team are enjoying the chance to put the finishing touches to their races before competition starts.”
Cameron Leslie can sense the anticipation growing in the group as it’s nearly time to go racing.
“The team has prepared well in Mallorca, plenty of good training and opportunities to improve. Now we are in the village and racing is upon us there’s a bit more excitement to race from everyone.”
Leslie is excited to be returning to the Paralympic stage.
“I’m looking forward to racing and seeing what I’m capable of. It’s always cool seeing your times drop down as you progress through taper, the body starts to feel good again too.”
The swimming will be held across ten days of competition, getting underway on Thursday 29 August. Heats will be held each NZ evening from 7.30pm NZST and finals from 3.30am NZST the following morning. The first day for the Kiwis is day two, with no swimmers in action on the first day of competition.
Make sure you are following Swimming NZ on our social media channels to stay up-to-date with the latest action from Paris.
You can watch the coverage on TVNZ, who are providing the most extensive coverage in New Zealand history at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The coverage includes:
Channel(s) | Coverage |
TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ | 7.30pm – 6am = live daily coverage with focus on Kiwis in action |
TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+ | Live Studio show hosted by our own 11-time Paralympic Champion Dame Sophie Pascoe and experienced broadcaster Scotty Stevenson |
TVNZ+ Pop Up Channels | Five live pop up channels with a selection of events |
TVNZ+ | Replays, highlights and extras |
Check out our preview of our Kiwis in action each day below.
Daily Previews
*start times are subject to change, and finals are subject to athlete progression.
Day Two
Heats (from 7.30pm NZST – Friday 30 August)
Men’s 100m Freestyle S4 (Leslie)
Women’s 100m Breaststroke SB9 (Smith)
Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB8 (Willmer)
Potential Finals Swims (from 3.30am NZST – Saturday 31 August)
Men’s 100m Freestyle S4 (Leslie* – 3.37am)
Women’s 100m Breaststroke SB9 (Smith* – 5.16am)
Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB8 (Willmer* – 6.05am)
With no swimmers in action on the first day, our Paris campaign kicks off with three events on day two. Cameron Leslie will be taking on his first of four events in Paris, starting with the men’s 100m freestyle S4. Coming into the Games, Leslie has won a gold and silver medal respectively at the past two Para Swimming World Championships and will be hoping to add his first Paralympic medal in the event to his collection.
Gaby Smith will make her Paralympic debut in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB9. Smith has the seventh fastest entry time, so will be looking to reach the finals and leave it all in the pool.
Josh Willmer will make his Paralympic debut in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB8. Entering with the 10th fastest entry time, Willmer will be hoping to replicate his performance at the Commonwealth Games to come from behind and produce his best on the big stage.
Day Three
Heats (from 7.30pm NZST – Saturday 31 August)
Women’s 100m Backstroke S8 (Neiufi)
Potential Finals Swims (from 3.30am NZST – Sunday 1 September)
Women’s 100m Backstroke S8 (Neiufi* – 4.06am)
Tupou Neiufi will make her first appearance at her third Games. The reigning Paralympic Champion in this event, Neiufi will be looking to defend her title. Neiufi has the fifth fastest entry time, having won bronze at this event at the Para Swimming World Championships in Manchester last year.
Day Six
Heats (from 7.30pm NZST – Tuesday 3 September)
Men’s 100m Backstroke S9 (Reynolds)
Men’s 200m Freestyle S4 (Leslie)
Women’s 100m Butterfly S10 (Mason)
Potential Finals Swims (from 3.30am NZST – Wednesday 4 September)
Men’s 100m Backstroke S9 (Reynolds* – 3.37am)
Men’s 200m Freestyle S4 (Leslie* – 3.51am)
Women’s 100m Butterfly S10 (Mason* – 6.28am)
Jesse Reynolds leads off the sixth day of competition with his only event in Paris. Competing at his third Paralympic Games, Reynolds will be using his international experience to perform at his best in the men’s 100m backstroke S9. Reynolds has the eighth fastest seed time on the entry list.
Cameron Leslie will return to the competition pool for the longest event of his programme, the men’s 200m freestyle S4. As the reigning World Championships bronze medallist from Manchester last year in this event, Leslie will be hoping to better his entry time as the seventh fastest seed arriving in Paris.
Lili-Fox Mason will make her Paralympic debut in the women’s 100m butterfly S10. Mason will be hoping to emulate her local hero, Dame Sophie Pascoe, in performing on the biggest of stages in Paris. Mason enters as the 13th fastest.
Day Eight
Heats (from 7.30pm NZST – Thursday 5 September)
Women’s 400m Freestyle S10 (Mason & Smith)
Women’s 50m Freestyle S8 (Neiufi)
Potential Finals Swims (from 3.30am NZST – Friday 6 September)
Women’s 400m Freestyle S10 (Mason* & Smith* – 3.50am)
Women’s 50m Freestyle S8 (Neiufi* – 5.50am)
Christchurch girls Lili-Fox Mason and Gaby Smith will both be suiting up for the women’s 400m freestyle S10, the only event where New Zealand has more than one swimmer. Smith and Mason enter the event as the 11th and 12th fastest respectively.
Tupou Neiufi is the other Kiwi in action on day eight, taking on the women’s 50m freestyle S8. Coming in as the tenth fastest, Neiufi will be looking to produce strong performance to progress through to the final.
Day Nine
Heats (from 7.30pm NZST – Friday 6 September)
Men’s 50m Freestyle S4 (Leslie)
Potential Finals Swims (from 3.30am NZST – Saturday 7 September)
Men’s 50m Freestyle S4 (Leslie* – 5.36am)
Cameron Leslie is the only Kiwi racing on day nine in Paris, taking on the men’s 50m freestyle S4. As the silver medallist in this event at the past two Para Swimming World Championships, the former world record holder will be looking to produce his best at the Paris La Defense Arena where he enters as the third fastest seed.
Day Ten
Heats (from 7.30pm NZST – Saturday 7 September)
Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM10 (Smith)
Men’s 50m Backstroke S4 (Leslie)
Potential Finals Swims (from 3.30am NZST – Sunday 8 September)
Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM10 (Smith* – 3.37am)
Men’s 50m Backstroke S4 (Leslie* – 4.54am)
Gaby Smith will round out her debut Paralympic Games on the final day of competition, taking on her third event — the women’s 200m individual medley SM10. She is seeded as the 12th fastest coming into the Games.
Cameron Leslie has his best event on the final day, where he will take on the men’s 50m backstroke S4. Coming into the event as the reigning World Champion, Leslie has the third fastest entry time.
Swimmer Entries
Cameron Leslie
Men’s 50m Freestyle S4 (Entry time: 37.22)
Men’s 100m Freestyle S4 (Entry time: 1:22.56)
Men’s 200m Freestyle S4 (Entry time: 3:02.86)
Men’s 50m Backstroke S4 (Entry time: 42.64)
Lili-Fox Mason
Women’s 400m Freestyle S10 (Entry time: 4:59.47)
Women’s 100m Butterfly S10 (Entry time: 1:12.40)
Tupou Neiufi
Women’s 50m Freestyle S8 (Entry time: 32.77)
Women’s 100m Backstroke S8 (Entry time: 1:20.35)
Jesse Reynolds
Men’s 100m Backstroke S9 (Entry time: 1:04.85)
Gaby Smith
Women’s 400m Freestyle S10 (Entry time: 4:56.54)
Women’s 100m Breaststroke SB9 (Entry time: 1:20.11)
Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM10 (Entry time: 2:39.68)
Josh Willmer
Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB8 (Entry time: 1:13.40)
New Zealand Swimming Team
Name | Club/Organisation | Role |
Cameron Leslie | Whangārei | Swimmer |
Lili-Fox Mason | Wharenui | Swimmer |
Tupou Neiufi | Pukekohe | Swimmer |
Jesse Reynolds | Hamilton Aquatics & RPC Waikato | Swimmer |
Gaby Smith | Vikings | Swimmer |
Josh Willmer | Pukekohe | Swimmer |
Simon Mayne | Swimming NZ | Head Coach |
Tom Onley | Whangārei | Coach |
Amanda White | Swimming NZ | Team Manager & Chaperone |
Graeme White | Support Staff |
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