31 Aug 2024
The Black Fins have completed the pool rescue section of at the Lifesaving World Championships, breaking multiple New Zealand records and three world records in an epic display in the Gold Coast sun. Fergus Eadie (Mairangi Bay) broke two world records, in the Men’s 100m Manikin Carry, with a time of 43.97 seconds, and in the Men’s 50m Manikin Carry, with a time of 27.2 seconds. Meanwhile, in the Women’s 100m Manikin Tow, Zoe Crawford (Mairangi Bay) set a new world record of 55.30 seconds, only to have it broken by team-mate Madison Kidd (Whangamata) in the following heat in a time of 55.03 seconds.
Fergus Eadie says he hasn’t quite comprehended the impact of his world records just yet.
“It’s just been race after race, so it hasn’t really sunk in yet. Maybe later tonight once the lactate’s settled down I’ll be able to start thinking on it, but I’m on cloud nine right now. The goal for now is to just keep throwing down for the Fern, to keep the ball rolling and see what else we can do,” he says.
A video interview with Fergus Eadie is available here.
Fergus also came second in the Men’s 100m Rescue Medley, while Zoe Crawford (Mairangi Bay) placed second in the Women’s 100m Manikin Carry with Fins and helped to create history in the final of the Women’s 100m Manikin Tow with a kiwi one-two, beating out Madison Kidd for the gold.
Elsewhere, Louis Clark (Mairangi Bay) came third in the Men’s 200m Obstacle Swim, Molly Shivnan (Omanu) placed fifth and compatriot Rae Kwan (Ōrewa) seventh in the Women’s 200m Obstacle Swim, and Chris Dawson (Midway) came seventh in the Men’s 200m Super Lifesaver.
In team events, New Zealand won the Women’s 4x50m Obstacle Relay, with the team of Madison Kidd, Molly Shivnan, Rae Kwan, and Zoe Crawford posting a time of 1:48.85 – a New Zealand record. Rae Kwan and Zoe Crawford also placed third in the Women’s Line Throw.
Fergus Eadie, Louis Clark, Chris Dawson, and Joe Collins (Fitzroy) placed sixth in the Men’s 4x50m Obstacle Relay, fourth in the Men’s 4x25m Manikin Relay, and fourth in the Men’s 4x50m Medley Relay. In the Mixed 4x50m Lifesaver Relay, Rae Kwan, Madison Kidd, Fergus Eadie, and Chris Dawson came second.
Black Fins Campaign Lead Steve Kent says that the team did incredibly well on day two of the Lifesaving World Championships, and that success has continued into day three.
“We had a few challenges on day two, but the things we’ve practiced, and the way they’ve all stepped up has been really inspiring. The pride across the board is pretty high, but we’re just going race by race,” he says.
Black Fins pool coach Andy McMillan says the Black Fins put in a huge effort in the pool.
“Zoe Crawford has continued her amazing form, leading the way in the 100m Manikin Tow and holding on until the very end. The boys were watching those world records, and it must have made an impact on Fergus, because he then went and set his own, beating the Aussie favourite in the process,” he says.
“Chris Dawson has also made every single A Final on Friday, which is an incredible effort. We also had a gallant swims from Raeann Kwan and Zoe Crawford in the B Final for the Women’s 200m Super Lifesaver. We’re really proud of their performance over the last couple of days.”
The Black Fins will move on to ocean and beach events on Saturday.
Despite medals being hard to come by, the Junior Black Fins sit 3rd on the points table after completing the beach component of the Youth World Championships.
With variable swells and wind both playing their part, the youth section of the Lifesaving World Championships featured tight racing and tough finishes that tested all their lifesaving sport skills.
Fourth place was becoming frustratingly common for the New Zealand team with Milana Tapper and Braith Swanberg both in the surf race, Tara Shotter in the board race, Braith in ironman, Zak Johnson in beach flags and sprints, the men’s Taplin and women’s board rescue all finishing just outside the medals.
However, hard work and resilience saw the Juniors eventually get amongst the medals.
Red Beach’s Laine Creighton picked up silver in the men’s ski race, unlucky to be part of a four-person jam on the last wave after leading for the majority of the race. Creighton also picked up a silver as part of the men’s beach relay team.
The New Zealand Female team of Bella Wansbrough, Milana Tapper, Sopie Petro and Michaela Pocock picked up a silver in the rescue tube while team-mate Tara Shotter grabbed a bronze in the surf race.
The Junior Black Fins now turn their focus to the pool for the remaining three days of competition.
About the Lifesaving World Championships
The biennial team event, which runs from 23 August to 8 September, will see the world’s best lifesavers from 44 countries race each other along the pristine Gold Coast coastline in various pool- and ocean-based events in an ultimate test of their swim skills and ocean knowledge. Events range from pool disciplines like the manikin tow through to board rescues and beach sprints, and simulated emergency response (SERC).
Athletes race for both individual and team victories, with points earned for each of the 43 events in total. The Black Fins have won three of the last five World Championships, and have been on the podium almost every year since 1998.
Also on the line is the potential for Olympic glory, with the International Life Saving Federation (ILS) and Surf Life Saving Australia leading a campaign for lifesaving’s inclusion in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, the first time the sport would be featured at an Olympics. In fact, the International Olympic Committee will be observing the competition on the Gold Coast, with a final decision to be announced in 2026.
For New Zealand, success in the LWCs may drive future Olympic success as well as provide an opportunity to showcase the strength of its surf lifesaving talent on the world stage.
Key dates:
For more information (including live streaming details), visit www.lwc2024.com.
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