Virtus OA Games: first gold medal for NZ in an action-packed Day 3
- Swimmer Tate Pichon has seized the first gold medal for New Zealand in the Virtus Oceania Asia Games.
- New Zealanders won a total of 8 medals across swimming and athletics on Day 3 of the OA Games.
- Virtus is the International Federation for athletes with intellectual impairment. The Virtus Oceania Asia Games 2022 (OA Games 2022) is an international multi-sport event in the Oceania Asia region for elite athletes with an intellectual impairment. It is being held 5-11 November 2022 in Brisbane.
Day 3 of the Virtus Oceania Asia Games saw more proud moments for New Zealanders, as 8 medals were claimed by the NZ delegation across athletics and swimming events.
The icing on the cake was swimmer Tate Pichon (S19) seizing gold in the final moments of the 800m freestyle II3. It was the first gold medal to New Zealand in the competition. An excited Pichon explained what it meant to him:
“It’s a huge achievement. The biggest achievement I ever had.”
Also in swimming, Finn Russ and Lance Dustow (both S19) added to their medal hauls with a silver and a bronze apiece in the 100m butterfly and the 50m freestyle II3. Helen Mackay (S14) claimed her first medal – a silver – in the 800m freestyle II1. New Zealand’s S14 relay teams in II1 continued to show their combined strength with bronze to the mixed team in the 4x100m medley and a 4th place finish for the men’s team in the 4x100m freestyle.
Meanwhile in athletics, Joshua Lush (T20) had another fantastic day with a second medal in his second event – this time bronze in the long jump II1.
New Zealand’s medal tally now sits at 19, including 1 gold, 8 silver and 10 bronze.
Competition continues through the week (schedule link) with more results expected tomorrow. Check out Day 2 results here.
New Zealand delegation results at Virtus Oceania Asia Games 2022 Day 3
| Para sport | Athlete | Sports class | Event | Result | Placing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athletics | Joshua Lush | T20 | Long Jump T20 II1 | 6.47m | Bronze |
| Swimming | David Beck | S14 | 800m freestyle II1 | 10:06.7 PB + NZR | 5th |
| Swimming | Jack Bugler | S14 | 800m freestyle II1 | 10:07.5 PB | 6th |
| Swimming | Bailey Conlon | S14 | 800m freestyle II1 | 10:49.5 | 7th |
| Swimming | Helen Mackay | S14 | 800m freestyle II1 | 15:03.1 PB + NZR | Silver |
| Swimming | Tate Pichon | S19 | 800m freestyle II3 | 11:05.5 PB | Gold |
| Swimming | Bailey Conlon | S14 | 50m freestyle II1 | 28.98 | 13th |
| Swimming | Xavier Denver | S14 | 50m freestyle II1 | 29.97 | 15th |
| Swimming | Cuda Tawhai-Hamilton | S14 | 50m freestyle II1 | 32.97 | 18th |
| Swimming | James Haydon | S14 (youth) | 50m freestyle II1 | 30.99 PB | 6th |
| Swimming | Rylee Sayer | S14 (youth) | 50m freestyle II1 | 32.69 PB + NZR 16/U | - |
| Swimming | Luka Willems | S18 | 50m freestyle II2 | 38.53 PB | 4th |
| Swimming | Finn Russ | S19 | 50m freestyle II3 | 27.88 PB | Silver |
| Swimming | Lance Dustow | S19 | 50m freestyle II3 | 29.53 PB | Bronze |
| Swimming | Tate Pichon | S19 | 50m freestyle II3 | 32.75 PB | 7th |
| Swimming | Asher Smith-Franklin | S14 | 100m butterfly II1 | 01:03.9 PB + NZR | 11th |
| Swimming | David Beck | S14 | 100m butterfly II1 | 01:12.3 | 17th |
| Swimming | Xavier Denver | S14 | 100m butterfly II1 | 01:15.2 PB | 19th |
| Swimming | Lance Dustow | S19 | 100m butterfly II3 | 01:10.2 PB | Silver |
| Swimming | Finn Russ | S19 | 100m butterfly II3 | 01:15.5 PB | Bronze |
| Swimming | James Haydon | S14 (youth) | 200m breaststroke II1 | 3:11.97 PB | - |
| Swimming | David Beck, Jack Bugler, Bailey Conlon, Asher Smith-Franklin | S14 | 4x100m freestyle II1 | 04:07.2 | 4th |
| Swimming | Jack Bugler, Rylee Sayer, Asher Smith-Franklin, Helen Mackay | S14 | 4x100m medley (mixed) II1 | 05:56.2 | Bronze |
