Kiwi swimmers set to make World Championship debut

Two New Zealand swimmers head to Canada this week to prepare for the FINA 25m World Championships starting next Wednesday (NZ time).

Daniel Hunter and Michael Mincham are competing in their first short course world championships, to be held in Windsor, Ontario.

Howick Pakuranga club swimmer Daniel Hunter will be competing in his first major international meet after missing out on qualification for Rio by a fraction of a second.

Hunter was in stunning form at the national short course championships, where he broke two New Zealand records on his way to qualifying in the 50m, 100m, and 200m freestyle events. He went on to lower his national 100m freestyle record in claiming a silver medal at the recent FINA World Cup meet in Hong Kong.

Mincham, 20, also impressed at the national championship when he was 13 seconds inside the qualifying mark in the 1500m freestyle. The United club swimmer from Auckland goes into his first significant international meet 33^rd fastest in the world over his main distance, and will also compete in the 400m freestyle.

National head coach Jerry Olszewski said the experience will be invaluable for the duo who will be among the prime candidates chasing selection for the World Championships in 2017 and the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 16 months.

“Competing at this level will be an invaluable experience for these swimmers both in competition against some of the world’s best swimmers in a major championship and also the key skills needed in short course swimming that will be a benefit to their long course development.”

Rio Olympian Corey Main was a late withdrawal from the team due to personal circumstances.

The team is: Daniel Hunter (Howick Pakuranga) 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle and Michael Mincham (United) 400m freestyle, 1500m freestyle. Team leader: Horst Miehe (Howick Pakuranga).

CAPTION: Daniel Hunter in action at the 2016 New Zealand Short Course Championships

FINA World Championships (25m)