New Zealand swimming star Lewis Clareburt described his week as “a dream come true” as he claimed his third medal as he starred in a scintillating men’s 200m individual medley race at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games on Thursday.
Clareburt was right on the pace but eventually had to settle for bronze as he finished behind winner Duncan Scott of Scotland and England’s Tom Dean.
Scott led from start to finish to win in a Games record time of 1:56:88. Dean was only 0.13s behind while Clareburt was just outside his New Zealand record with a time of 1:57:59.
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Lewis Clareburt felt he had a dream week in Birmingham that ended with his third medal, a bronze in the 200m individual medley.
Clareburt’s latest medal added to his two Birmingham golds in the 200m butterfly and 400m individual medley.
It took his haul of major international medals to five following his bronze efforts in the 400m individual medley at both the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2019 World Championships.
It confirmed the 23-year-old Clareburt as a major force in the pool heading into the 2025 Paris Olympics.
”It’s been a dream come true,” Clareburt told Sky Sport of his week’s work.
”This is what I dreamed of when I was young – getting medals on a world stage. I feel like I’ve made that come true.”
He said he was driven to perform and to improve.
“I guess there’s an inner devil in me that hates losing. I love beating people that are better than me.”
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Lewis Clareburt’s incredible Commonwealth Games continued with a bronze medal in the 200m individual medley.
Clareburt had qualified sixth in the 200m individual medley and had a tough assignment in lane seven on the final night of the swimming program at these Games.
He was a close second to Scott over the first three legs of butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke.
Scott crept out to a handy lead in the final freestyle leg. Clareburt rallied strongly, but in the end it was Dean who came charging through in the middle lane next to Scott to pip the Kiwi for silver.
Clareburt had mixed emotions after the final.
”It was sort of a blur,” he said of the fast-paced race.
”I was on the wrong side of the pool … I didn’t help myself this morning (in qualifying).
”But it’s been a big week … a bronze medal, I can’t complain. Duncan Scott took the silver in this event in Tokyo last year, he is a force to be reckoned with.”
Scott has now won 13 Commonwealth Games medals to go with his six Olympic medals and five World Championship medals.
Erika Fairweather was fourth in the women’s 400m freestyle final.
Clareburt said he was looking forward to a short holiday in Scott’s home city of Edinburgh before returning to New Zealand.
He was proud to be part of this New Zealand swimming team that had done so well in Birmingham.
”I feel like it’s one of our most successful ever.”
New Zealand ended fourth on the swimming medal table with five golds, two silvers and two bronzes. Australia dominated with 25 golds, 21 silvers and 19 bronzes. England were second and Canada third.
Erika Fairweather went close to adding to the Kiwi medal haul when she finished a brave fourth in the women’s 400m freestyle final with fellow Kiwi Eve Thomas sixth as New Zealand’s swimming participation in these Games ended.
Fairweather had been the top qualifier but was fourth from the opening leg of eight and couldn’t improve as Australia’s Olympics champion Ariarne Titmus won in a Games record time of 3:58:06.
Canada’s Summer McIntosh was second with Australia’s Kiah Melverton taking the bronze.
Fairweather was just 0.72s behind Melverton as she swam 4:03:84. Thomas’ time was 4:09:73.
