Otago swimmers Hana Carnie and Lily McGrath proudly represented New Zealand at the XIV Oceania Swimming Championships, held at the Damodar Aquatic Centre in Fiji from 9–12 May 2026. Featuring athletes from 15 nations, the championships provided an invaluable opportunity for emerging swimmers to gain international racing experience on the Oceania stage.

Among the 28-strong New Zealand team were Wanaka’s Hana Carnie and Neptune’s Lily McGrath, both earning their first New Zealand caps and making the most of the opportunity against some of the region’s top athletes.

At just 14 years old, Carnie was the youngest athlete selected on the New Zealand team and showed composure beyond her years throughout the competition. The backstroke specialist finished 9th in both the 100m and 200m Backstroke finals, delivering consistent performances against strong international fields. She also contributed to two New Zealand relay teams, swimming in the Mixed 4x50m Freestyle and Mixed 4x50m Medley relays.

While Carnie impressed with her consistency and maturity, McGrath delivered several standout performances across the competition. The Neptune swimmer produced a breakthrough swim in the 100m Breaststroke, lowering her entry time of 1:14.07 by more than a second to post a personal-best 1:13.01 in the heats before finishing 4th overall. She also secured 6th place in the 50m Breaststroke and 8th in the 200m Individual Medley.

McGrath’s strong form continued in the relays, helping New Zealand secure two bronze medals. She was part of the Female 4x200m Freestyle relay team alongside Hope Wang, Jasmine Lyles, and Kiri Yamagami, before combining with Charley Joyce, Kiri Yamagami, and Stacey Morgan to claim another silver in the Female 4x100m Medley relay on the final day of competition.

For both Carnie and McGrath, the championships marked an important milestone in their swimming journeys. Returning home with valuable international experience, strong performances, and podium finishes, the duo has further highlighted the strength and growing depth of swimming talent across Otago.

Article added: Wednesday 13 May 2026