Lewis Clareburt during the Men's 400m Individual Medley Heats at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Photo: Photosport
Two-time Olympian Lewis Clareburt is leaving New Zealand to chase his dream of a swimming medal at the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
The 2024 400m Individual Medley World Champion has announced he's moving from Auckland to Melbourne where he'll join Nunawading Swim Club in January 2026.
Clareburt will be coached by internationally renowned coach Jolyon Finck, and will train with Olympic athletes who also specialise in the medley disciplines.
The double Commonwealth Games swimming champion was forced to relocate to Auckland at the end of 2023 when he struggled to get lane space at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre, which was shared by other sports and the public.
Clareburt won gold in the 400 medley and the 200 butterfly at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and made the 400 medley final at the Tokyo Olympics.
"We're looking to create a really strong medley training group in Melbourne," Clareburt said.
"At the moment there's a really successful medley training group in the US and they're winning all the medals internationally. If medley swimmers from Australia and New Zealand want to be on the podium we need to have a similar group in the southern hemisphere and that's what we're looking to set up.
"Being surrounded by this group day-in day-out is going to allow me to keep developing my swimming and pushing myself. I'm also 26 and have lived in New Zealand all my life, so this is an exciting opportunity for me and my partner to live in another country and experience a different culture."
The 26-year-old paid tribute to the team which has supported him in Auckland.
"I can't speak highly enough of my time in Auckland. Mitch Nairn has been an amazing coach and my physios and strength and conditioning team have been awesome," he said.
"I'll still be racing for New Zealand and I'll be back home quite often for competitions and camps so it's going to be a great mix for me and I'm excited for a new challenge which should help me reach my goals."
Swimming New Zealand head of high performance Graeme Maw said the organisation was looking forward to supporting Clareburt as he builds toward LA2028.
"We're excited to see Lewis continue to develop and chase his goal of a podium finish in LA," Maw said.
"Swimming New Zealand has a strong and supportive relationship with Lewis and with his new coach in Melbourne, and he will remain fully supported by SNZ as he builds toward upcoming pinnacle events."
