Event Wrap of the 2023 World Aquatics Masters Championships
The World Aquatics Masters Championships were held earlier this month on the Japanese Island of Kyushu. The championships comprised of five aquatic disciplines; Swimming, Open Water, Artistic Swimming, Diving, and Waterpolo.
New Zealand had a strong contingent of athletes competing in the Swimming Championships in Fukuoka from the 5 - 11 August. The competition was fierce and vast with over 6,000 athletes participating. For example, the 50m Freestyle had 139 male heats, and 116 female heats alone!
The NZ Masters Swimmers all had exceptional swims especially after surviving both a heat wave as well as a typhoon! New Zealand ended the Championships with a medal haul of 4 Gold, 4 Silver, and 2 Bronze in the pool, and 1 Bronze in Open Water, as well as breaking 3 Championship Records and a further 5 New Zealand records!
Brent Foster (Roskill Masters) had an outstanding week, claiming the Championship Record in both the 200m Individual Medley and 400m Individual Medley on his way to gold in the 55-59 years age group. Foster also won silver medals in the 800m Freestyle and 200m Butterfly, whilst also swimming strongly in the 3km Open Water event.
Aquablack #157 Mark Weldon (Roskill Masters) also had an outstanding week claiming gold in the 100m Freestyle in a Championship and NZ Record, gold in the 100m Butterfly in a NZ Record time, and silver in the 50m Butterfly, all in the 55-59 year age group.
Other medal swims for the New Zealanders came from Richard Lockhart (Swimtastic) winning silver in the 60-64 year age group in the 200m Breaststroke in a NZ Record. Stephan Clarke (Dunedin Masters) won bronze in the 800m Freestyle in the 65-69 year age group and the Roskill Masters Men (Foster, Weldon, Adam Carroll, David Stekert) claimed bronze in the 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay in the 200-239 years age group.
Congratulations to all our athletes on there amazing results and representing NZ proudly on the international stage!
Brent Foster - Roskill Masters (Mens 55-59 Age group) | Gold - 200 IM Championship & NZ Record, 400 IM Championship Record Silver - 800 Free, 200 Fly NZ Record, 3km Open water Bronze - 4x50 Free Relay |
Richard Lockhart - Swimtastic (Mens 60-64 Age group) | Silver - 200 Breast NZ Record 200 IM - 6th 400 IM - 4th |
Mark Weldon - Roskill Masaters (Mens 55-59 Age Group) | Gold - 100 Fly NZ Record, 100 Free Championship & NZ Record Silver - 50 Fly Bronze - 4x50 Free Relay |
Stephen Clarke - Dunedin Masters ( Mens 65-69 Age Group) | Bronze - 800 Free 200 Free - 8th |
Rachel Standen - Hamilton Aquatics Masters (Womens 50-54 Age Group) | 200 Back - 23rd 200 Free - 35th |
Mark Johnson - Dunedin Masters (Mens 65-69 Age Group) | 100 Free - 14th 50 Fly - 21st |
Adam Carroll - Roskill Masters (Mens 50-54 Age group) | Bronze - 4x50 Free relay 100 Free - 9th 50 Fly - 14th |
Brent Standen - Hamilton Aquatics Masters (Mens 50-54 Age group) | 100 Free - 84th |
David Stekert - Roskill Masters (Mens 55-59 Age group) | Bronze - 4x50 Free Relay 50 Fly - 44th |
Special Mention to Ian Gunthorp from North Shore Masters and his Aussie team mates in the Perth Cockatoos team won the 70 + age group silver medal in Water Polo.
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