Virtus OA Games: swimmers add 7 medals to their haul on Day 4, and Evans takes gold in Para Sailing International Championships
- 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 sport | Athlete | Sports class | Event | Result | Placing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swimming | James Haydon | SB1 (youth) | 50m breaststroke - youth | 39.18 PB | - |
| Swimming | Rylee Sayer | S14 (youth) | 200m freestyle - youth | 2:46.32 PB + 16/U NZR | - |
| Swimming | Lance Dustow | S19 | 200m backstroke II3 | 02:44.6 PB | Silver |
| Swimming | James Haydon | S14 (youth) | 100m breaststroke - youth | 01:25.0 PB | - |
| Swimming | Rylee Sayer | S14 (youth) | 100m breaststroke II1 - youth | 01:49.1 PB + NZR | - |
| Swimming | Jack Bugler | S14 | 1500m freestyle II1 | 20:09.2 PB | 4th |
| Swimming | Tate Pichon | S19 | 1500m freestyle II3 | 21:55.5 PB | Silver |
| Swimming | Denver Xavier | S14 | 50m breaststroke II1 | 41.7 PB | 8th |
| Swimming | Luka Willems | SB18 | 50m breaststroke II2 | 57.88 PB | 4th |
| Swimming | Tate Pichon | SB19 | 50m breaststroke II3 | 44.82 PB | 5th |
| Swimming | Rylee Sayer | SB14 (youth) | 50m breaststroke II1 - youth | 50.84 PB + NZR | - |
| Swimming | Jack Bugler | S14 | 200m freestyle II1 | 02:18.9 | 15th |
| Swimming | Bailey Conlon | S14 | 200m freestyle II1 | 02:23.2 | 19th |
| Swimming | Cuda Tawhai-Hamilton | S14 | 200m freestyle II1 | 02:59.9 | 22nd |
| Swimming | Asher Smith-Franklin | S14 | 200m freestyle II1 | 02:15.4 | - |
| Swimming | Lance Dustow | S19 | 200m freestyle II3 | 02:24.1 PB | Bronze |
| Swimming | Tate Pichon | S19 | 200m freestyle II3 | 02:32.1 PB | 5th |
| Swimming | Bailey Conlon | S14 | 50m butterfly II1 | 32.38 PB | 9th |
| Swimming | Denver Xavier | S14 | 50m butterfly II1 | 34.56 | 13th |
| Swimming | Cuda Tawhai-Hamilton | S14 | 50m butterfly II1 | 41.18 PB | 14th |
| Swimming | Finn Russ | S19 | 50m butterfly II3 | 30.29 PB | Silver |
| Swimming | Lance Dustow | S19 | 50m butterfly II3 | 31.59 | Bronze |
| Swimming | Helen Mackay | S14 | 50m butterfly II1 | 53.08 | 7th |
| Swimming | Asher Smith-Franklin | S14 | 100m breaststroke II1 | 01:15.5 PB + NZR | Bronze |
| Swimming | Denver Xavier | S14 | 100m breaststroke II1 | 19th | |
| Swimming | Luka Willems | SB18 | 100m breaststroke II2 | 02:09.9 PB | 4th |
| Swimming | Tate Pichon | SB19 | 100m breaststroke II3 | 01:40.3 | 4th |
| Swimming | David Beck, James Haydon, Asher Smith-Franklin, Bailey Conlon | S14 | 4x50m medley II1 | 02:07.9 | 4th |
| Swimming | Cuda Tawhai-Hamilton, Helen Mackay, Denver Xavier, Rylee Sayer | S14 | 4x100m freestyle (mixed) II1 | 05:17.9 NZR | Bronze |
Check out Day 3 results here and Day 2 results here.
