Clareburt Joins Mosse & Le Clos In Club Of 200 'Fly Crown Keepers
"I knew from four years ago the last 50m is anyone's race, so had the energy at the right time, and to turn around and see the number one next to your name on the board is a pretty special feeling." - Lewis Clareburt
Just one gold got away from Australia on Day 4 at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and even victory for New Zealand's Lewis Clareburt in the 200m butterfly came down, at least in part, to living in swimming paradise across The Ditch (AKA, The Tasman Sea).
Dolphin Dominance:
Craig Lord
The successful defence of the 27-year-old's title delivered New Zealand's first gold medal of the Games, at Tollcross International Pool or any other venue.
Clareburt, coached by Jolyon Finck at Nunawading, is only the third man to retain the 200 'fly crowns since the event was introduced in 1958.
- the first was fellow Kiwi Anthony Mosse, the Olympic bronze medalist in the event at the Seoul 1988 Games in between Commonwealth victories in 1986 and 1990, and
- the second was Chad Le Clos, the South African who in Glasgow at these Games became the most medalled athlete, across all sports, in Commonwealth and Empire history, a bronze in the 4x100m freestyle relay with teammates granting him a 19th visit to the podium since 2010. Le Clos, the London 2012 Olympic champion, counts three 200 'fly titles in his Commonwealth count, from 2010, 2014, and 2018.
New Zealand's other winners of the 'fly prize are Dave Gerrard in 1966; Danyon Loader in 1994, after claiming silver in the 200m butterfly at the Barcelona 1992 Olympics and gold medals in the 200 and 400m freestyle four years later; and Moss Burmester in 2006.
This evening at Tollcross, Clareburt was never far from the lead pace but he left his decisive challenge for gold to the last length, powering past Australian Harrison Turner in the closing metres of battle, the bronze to another Dolphin, Matt Temple:
Speaking to Radio New Zealand after his win here in Glasgow, Clareburt said:
"I thought I was out of that race the whole time. I came to the second-to-last lap and was still feeling amazing, so I was like, 'I better start swimming faster.' I knew from four years ago the last 50m is anyone's race, so had the energy at the right time, and to turn around and see the number one next to your name on the board is a pretty special feeling."
"I felt like I could run through a brick wall. I didn't expect to win that race - I thought it was going to be a lot harder than previously, and the talent in the field showed that."
Clareburt, who took silver behind Scotland's Duncan Scott on the first day of racing last Friday, will also defend the 400IM title from Birmingham 2022 on Wednesday, as the curtain comes down on the swimming at the Games.
Lewis Clareburt - Photos by Ian MacNicol
In Search Of Better Working Conditions Abroad
Coached to victory in 2022 and up until the eve of a World title in 2024 by Gary Hollywood in New Zealand, Clareburt left for Auckland but "swimming on my own" was not the solution. He needed a serious option.
Australia was the answer after a period in which a lack of adequate training facilities and conditions beyond the control of coach and swimmer in New Zealand left Clareburt no choice.
Since January, when Clareburt relocated to Melbourne's Nunawading Swim Club, the Kiwi ace has been guided by coach is Jolyon Finck, who mentored England and Britain's James Guy, among others, in the British 2015 World 200 free champion and Olympic relay stalwart's younger years.
On arrival in Glasgow, Clareburt spoke to RNZ about his move:
"It's been amazing. I'm racing guys every single day that are doing the exact same events as me. And I think naturally that has been a massive advantage compared to what I was doing back at home, more of swimming by myself back in Auckland. Now I'm racing guys every single day and that only helps the competitiveness and it pushes you that little bit extra every single day."
