Team Selection Confirmation for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
Defending Paralympic Women’s 100m Backstroke S8 champion, Paralympian #201 and Aquablack #261 Tupou Neiufi (Pukekohe), has earned selection to the New Zealand Paralympic Team for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
The 23-year-old Auckland-based Para swimmer boasts outstanding international pedigree and is all set for her third Paralympic appearance, where she will compete in the Women’s 100m Backstroke S8 and the Women’s 50m Freestyle S8.
Neiufi was hit by a speeding car as a two-year-old resulting in left sided hemiplegia, caused be a traumatic brain injury. The eldest of seven children, she was identified by Paralympics NZ as part of the Para Swimming Talent Identification programme in 2011 and at the age of 15 made her Paralympic debut at Rio 2016 where she placed seventh in the Women’s 100m S9 Backstroke in Rio. Two years later, she finished sixth in the Women’s 100m Backstroke S9 at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Neiufi earned her first global medal with a silver medal in the Women’s 100m Backstroke S8 at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships in London before enjoying her finest success by memorably climbing the top of the podium in the Women’s 100m Backstroke S8 at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
The Kiwi, who is coached by Sheldon Kemp, has since maintained her impressive medal streak by winning silver in the Women’s 100m Backstroke S8 at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and bronze at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester in her primary event.
Neiufi is delighted to be selected for her third Paralympic Games.
“It has been a challenging lead up to the Games but since nationals in April everything has started to click and I’m both happy and relieved to make my third Paralympic team. I want to be in my best racing condition in Paris, trust in the process and hopefully I will be able to deliver my best when it counts.”
Paralympics New Zealand Chief Executive Officer, Greg Warnecke, also welcomed Neiufi to the team.
“We are ecstatic to add Tupou to the NZ Paralympic Team for Paris 2024. She is an experienced Paralympian who has continued to excel on the international stage. Her presence is a huge boost for the Team and we look forward to seeing how she performs in the pool in Paris.”
Swimming NZ Chief Executive, Steve Johns, is also looking forward to watching Neiufi in Paris.
“We’re delighted to be able to add Tupou to our Para swimming team. She is an experienced athlete who deserves her place on the Paris 2024 team, and we can’t wait to see her in action month along with her five teammates.”
Neiufi joins five Para swimmers in Paris who were selected in May as part of the NZ Paralympic Team for Paris 2024. Heading to the Games together again are Paralympian #164 & Aquablack #272 Cameron Leslie MNZM (Whangarei) and Paralympian #205 & Aquablack #262 Jesse Reynolds (Hamilton Aquatics & Waikato RPC). Alongside these experienced Paralympians are three Para athletes making their Paralympic debut in Paris, Aquablack #273 Lili-Fox Mason (Wharenui), Aquablack #274 Gabriella Smith (Vikings) and teammate Joshua Willmer (Aquablack #275 - Pukekohe).
