Day one of the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka saw Erika Fairweather take home bronze in the 400m Freestyle. Fairweather's incredible performance saw her go sub four minutes for the first time, becoming the fifth woman in history to do so. 

In what media outlets dubbed as the 'race of the century', Fairweather was up against some fierce competition including the 'big three' - Summer McIntosh (the World Record Holder), Katie Ledecky (the defending World Champion), and Ariarne Titmus (the Olympic Champion). With a lot of hype around the trio coming into the championships, Fairweather remained relatively under the radar upon her arrival in Japan despite being in prime form having broken the national record in her favoured 400m event twice already this year. 

After a comfortable heats swim, Erika qualified for the final in fifth place and secured a lane next to Canada's Summer McIntosh. From there, it was all to play for. In the final, Fairweather bided her time over the first 300m, but with McIntosh and Ledecky in her sights she knew it was time to put her foot down for the final 100m. Flying home in the second fastest split of the field, Erika kept her composure and powered home to claim the bronze medal; leaving favourite for gold, McIntosh, off the podium. Australia's Ariarne Titmus went on to break the World Record.

Finishing in a time 3:59.59, Erika lowered her personal best time by one second to set a new national record and join four legends of the sport - Titmus, Ledecky, McIntosh, and Federica Pellegrini - as the only women in history to break the four minute barrier. 

Here's what Erika had to say about her race...

"To be racing with them [Titmus, Ledecky, and McIntosh] was special and to get up on the podium with them [Titmus and Ledecky] was so cool. I really wanted to break that 4-minute mark, that was my main goal, I had a bit of fun with it and also managed to end up with a bronze medal around my neck."

Erika becomes the second Otago athlete to win a medal at a World Aquatics Championships, joining Danyon Loader in this exclusive club. Fittingly, Loader's medal haul from the 1994 championships included a bronze in the 400m Freestyle as well. Loader, like Fairweather, was 19 years of age when he achieved this feat.

With one eye firmly focussed on Paris 2024, Fairweather looks to follow in the footsteps of Loader at next year's Olympic Games. "I always said that world champs for Paris next year, so it's kind of all gone to plan," she said to Newshub. "Hopefully, we will just keep progressing and, hopefully, there's something big on the cards for Paris." 

Article added: Monday 24 July 2023