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 (opens a new tab) 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.