A second New Zealand swimming record has been broken at this week's national champs, with what Swimming New Zealand says is the "fastest 50m freestyle swim ever by a New Zealander".
Christchurch's Taiko Torepe-Ormsby "[left] the crowd on their feet and in disbelief" after he completed the Apollo Projects New Zealand Swimming Championships race in just 21.86s.
His time is under the Olympic qualification standard and the "first time a New Zealander has ever swum the distance in under 22 seconds," Swimming New Zealand said.
Torepe-Ormsby said he is "lost for words".
"I've been going fast the last couple of days, doing the sets my coach told me and I just can't believe I got that Olympic time."
A Swimming New Zealand spokesperson said the athlete is now "likely" to represent Aotearoa at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Torepe-Ormsby has been living in the US for the last few years, swimming for the University of Wisconsin.
Seven athletes have now hit the Olympic qualification time and four athletes have hit the Paralympic qualification time.
More than 180 athletes are competing at the 2024 Championships this week, held at the Hawke's Bay Regional Aquatics Centre.
The event is the last opportunity for New Zealand's top swimmers to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
SHARE ME