Posted on Thursday 10th November, 2022
  • New Zealand’s swimmers continue to bring home the medals with a haul of 7 on their final day of competition.
  • New Zealand Para sailing athlete Caleb Evans won a gold medal in the Para Sailing International Championships, which is being run in conjunction with 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.

New Zealand swimmers today brought the country’s tally to 26 medals. It was the final day as they rounded out the swimming events in the Virtus Oceania Asia Games. The day also saw Personal Bests for many of the athletes. Athletes broke several New Zealand Records in the S14 sports class.

Finn Russ (S19) was glad to collect another silver medal to add to 2 silvers and 2 bronze medals he had already won – even if he would have liked it to be gold. He raced the 50m butterfly in 30.29, a Personal Best.

“Today’s race was the 50m fly. I was so close to getting a gold medal, but instead I got a silver medal.”

Speaking of the OA Games as a whole, Finn explains that a highlight has been meeting athletes from around the globe.

“I’ve had fun and gotten to meet new people – from here in Australia, some from China and Japan, some from Malaysia, one from Colombia and some from America.”

Meanwhile in sailing, New Zealander Caleb Evans has been racing through the week as part of the Para Sailing International Championships which has happened in conjunction with the OA Games. Today, Evans claimed the Para Sailing World Championships gold medal for singles (Hansa 303 One Pax). Evans won all but 2 of the series of 12 races against Australian Allister Peek. The OA Games sailing medals have not yet been awarded.

While the New Zealanders have finished competing, the OA Games continue tomorrow. Virtus will award more medals in youth swimming as well as sailing. The New Zealanders will also take part in what promises to be a spectacular closing ceremony.

For details of the full delegation see our team announcement.

New Zealand delegation results at Virtus Oceania Asia Games Day 4

Para sportAthleteSports classEventResultPlacing
SwimmingJames HaydonSB1 (youth)50m breaststroke - youth39.18 PB-
SwimmingRylee SayerS14 (youth)200m freestyle - youth2:46.32 PB + 16/U NZR-
SwimmingLance DustowS19200m backstroke II302:44.6 PBSilver
SwimmingJames HaydonS14 (youth)100m breaststroke - youth01:25.0 PB-
SwimmingRylee SayerS14 (youth)100m breaststroke II1 - youth01:49.1 PB + NZR-
SwimmingJack BuglerS141500m freestyle II120:09.2 PB4th
SwimmingTate PichonS191500m freestyle II321:55.5 PBSilver
SwimmingDenver XavierS1450m breaststroke II141.7 PB8th
SwimmingLuka WillemsSB1850m breaststroke II257.88 PB4th
SwimmingTate PichonSB1950m breaststroke II344.82 PB5th
SwimmingRylee SayerSB14 (youth)50m breaststroke II1 - youth50.84 PB + NZR-
SwimmingJack BuglerS14200m freestyle II102:18.915th
SwimmingBailey ConlonS14200m freestyle II102:23.219th
SwimmingCuda Tawhai-HamiltonS14200m freestyle II102:59.922nd
SwimmingAsher Smith-FranklinS14200m freestyle II102:15.4-
SwimmingLance DustowS19200m freestyle II302:24.1 PBBronze
SwimmingTate PichonS19200m freestyle II302:32.1 PB5th
SwimmingBailey ConlonS1450m butterfly II132.38 PB9th
SwimmingDenver XavierS1450m butterfly II134.5613th
SwimmingCuda Tawhai-HamiltonS1450m butterfly II141.18 PB14th
SwimmingFinn RussS1950m butterfly II330.29 PBSilver
SwimmingLance DustowS1950m butterfly II331.59Bronze
SwimmingHelen MackayS1450m butterfly II153.087th
SwimmingAsher Smith-FranklinS14100m breaststroke II101:15.5 PB + NZRBronze
SwimmingDenver XavierS14100m breaststroke II119th
SwimmingLuka WillemsSB18100m breaststroke II202:09.9 PB4th
SwimmingTate PichonSB19100m breaststroke II301:40.34th
SwimmingDavid Beck, James Haydon, Asher Smith-Franklin, Bailey ConlonS144x50m medley II102:07.94th
SwimmingCuda Tawhai-Hamilton, Helen Mackay, Denver Xavier, Rylee SayerS144x100m freestyle (mixed) II105:17.9 NZRBronze

Check out Day 3 results here and Day 2 results here.