July 30, 2026 • 7 mins
The Commonwealth Games have provided plenty of high stakes action over the last week - and the pool is the place where the New Zealand team has seen the most success.
Lewis Clareburt has picked up two gold medals and a silver at the games, he joined D'Arcy to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk zed be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Calm Games a lot of good action, too much Bowls
in my opinion, but that's okay. I didn't have to
watch over and want it. But there's lots of other
really good action over the last week and in the
pool plenty of it. The most success in the water
was clear bit picked up three bits of ten, a
couple of golds and the silver and he joins us
(00:34):
now to discuss get a lewis a relatively successful Calm Games.
Where do you actually rank this amongst all of your
performances through your career.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
It's definitely It's definitely up there for sure. I think
being on that right path again, you know, like getting
down to my times that i've I did four years ago,
reclaiming I guess those titles. It's a pretty good feeling.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
That first gold was something to behold. I wonder if
you've gone back in your mind's eye around how that
actually unfolded, because you were almost stone cold, motherless last
and somehow bam right back at the end that there
was something else. Have you pulled that apart mentally since
that occasion, like actually worked out what on earth happened
(01:21):
out there?
Speaker 3 (01:22):
No idea, honestly, no idea. I think that's why I
probably gave the reaction that I gave because I knew
I was so far behind and I could feel myself gaining,
but didn't think I'd actually be able to pull it off,
And so when I did, there was a that was
just a raw emotion coming out all.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
At once, raw emotion, youge energy. Gotta love that. So
I have the last couple of years, what have you
worked on, particularly in your own stroke, your own technique,
What have you been doing to build up and have
this success at Glasgow?
Speaker 3 (01:53):
I think my biggest thing is actually probably just mostly confidence,
you know, like having the confidence and my ability that
I can finish a race like that in the position
that I was in we call it frame logging and swimming.
I was literally out of the frame for nine I'm
seen of that race, you couldn't see me, and then
all of a sudden, you know, having the confidence that
I could finish like I did as a pretty good feeling.
(02:15):
And I think that's that's probably the biggest thing that
I've I've learned over the last six months, especially now.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Aware were the other competitors of this because, like you know,
as you said, we couldn't see it. We had no idea.
Were they looking over their shoulder, did they know where
you were? But were they even expecting this? Have you
talked much of them about it?
Speaker 3 (02:34):
And he goes, yeah, we definitely had lots of conversations beforehand.
I don't think we talk about strategy at all. But
I did the same thing four years ago to Chad
and I'm not sure if they were expecting me to
come back like I did this year, But we didn't
really debrief it. I just had had a quick conversation
with Harry Turner, the guy that I ended up beating
(02:55):
on the wall, and I think he was gutted but
also happy for me.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Doesn't surprise me at all. It is the happy games, right,
That's the general feeling and the flavor out there amongst
the competitors.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Oh for sure. And I'm in the great position that
I'm in now where I'm a more of a senior
athlete on tour where you know, I know a significant
amount of athletes from all different countries and living in
Australia has probably helped build those relationships with a lot
of those Aussies anyway, so I've been racing them all year,
so yeah, look at those those relationships have have been
(03:30):
awesome for me.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Must be super cool too. I suppose justify your move
from Wellington to Auckland, then from Auckland over the ditch
to the West neand big steps. But now you can
look back and go, well, it was well worth it. It was,
wasn't it?
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Absolutely, And you know I was never going to sit
on a decision lightly it was. It was a It
was a tough move for me to especially go across
the ditch. It felt like I was changing allegiancies but
I haven't. But yeah, obviously super happy with with the
decision and and thankful it's been working out so far.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Where does this Commonwealth Games sit within your program when tapering,
when you're planning, when you're looking ahead, Where does this
sit in your mind's eye?
Speaker 3 (04:18):
This is definitely a pinnacle. You know, we plan, We've
been training all year for this, so it's definitely one
of the bigger ones on our program. And obviously you
know we put everything into this week, which is which
is great.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
So are you staying in Australia, is it your home
now for.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
The immediate future, yes, I guess until la that is
the plan. I'm hoping I can actually go back to
Australia and continue training. Hopefully. I haven't annoyed too many
people in the Australian management team, but I think it's
it's it's it's just a benefit to me, it is
to them. You know, I'm helping their guys. You know,
(04:56):
they get to see me every single day. I get
to race them every single day and they get a
benefit as well.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Very different common games from previous editions. Of course you
have been around. How does this have been compare to
previous calm games that you've been to.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
It definitely is smaller. I mean, we can you tell
when you as soon as you arrive. You know, it's
not as big. But the swimming program is exactly the same.
There's just as many athletes as there were previously. I
guess in terms of the New Zealand team athlete size.
You know, there's just not as many different sports here,
which is unfortunate. But I guess I'm just lucky that
(05:35):
swimming was one of the priority sports that got picked.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
As far as the drink that you were swimming and
you always hear tales of how fast the pool is
straight over my head but not yours? Right? Was that
a quick pool?
Speaker 3 (05:49):
I think for me it was. I heard a few
whispers the Aussies weren't to have you with the pool,
or some of the Aussies weren't to have you with
a pool, but they probably did the best out of everyone,
so honestly, I think it was. I think it was
a great pool. It's, you know, over ten years old.
It was the pool that they held the twenty fourteen
Commath Games, so it's held the test of tests of time.
(06:10):
And it's two meters deep, so it's actually probably not
regulation for Olympics Olympic size, but I think it was
fast regardless.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Hey, finally, Lewis, and thanks so much for joining us.
I'm sure we want to get back to your your
wine and you're celebrating. Tell us about the golden glow
of the Golden Girl, Zoey Hobbs. Did she come down
from that high yet? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Which we got welcome back into the New Zealand team
house with Zoe and it was pretty cool to hear
some of her stories from her experiences. Obviously, she was
running in torrential rain, out there on the track. So yeah,
hearing some of what she had to say about the experience,
I think she she mentioned her makeup was falling off
in the in the semi final and couldn't see a thing,
(06:54):
So that's probably something that we don't really experience in something.
You know, we've got goggles on and none of us
wear makeup.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
So yeah, it was so we're out there, you probably
could have swum you away to a podium finish, right,
Yeah for sure.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
I mean I didn't get to watch it, but from
what the photos that I've seen, I think goggles might
have been a good idea for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
And on that we'll leave you now get back to celebrating.
Look forward to you coming home or if that may be.
Thanks very much for your time. Really appreciate your efforts
in that Glasgow and also picking up the phone to
talk to us here and News Talk ZB on your
bro cheers.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Thanks Dussy.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talk
zed B from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk zed be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Calm Games a lot of good action, too much Bowls
in my opinion, but that's okay. I didn't have to
watch over and want it. But there's lots of other
really good action over the last week and in the
pool plenty of it. The most success in the water
was clear bit picked up three bits of ten, a
couple of golds and the silver and he joins us
(00:34):
now to discuss get a lewis a relatively successful Calm Games.
Where do you actually rank this amongst all of your
performances through your career.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
It's definitely It's definitely up there for sure. I think
being on that right path again, you know, like getting
down to my times that i've I did four years ago,
reclaiming I guess those titles. It's a pretty good feeling.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
That first gold was something to behold. I wonder if
you've gone back in your mind's eye around how that
actually unfolded, because you were almost stone cold, motherless last
and somehow bam right back at the end that there
was something else. Have you pulled that apart mentally since
that occasion, like actually worked out what on earth happened
(01:21):
out there?
Speaker 3 (01:22):
No idea, honestly, no idea. I think that's why I
probably gave the reaction that I gave because I knew
I was so far behind and I could feel myself gaining,
but didn't think I'd actually be able to pull it off,
And so when I did, there was a that was
just a raw emotion coming out all.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
At once, raw emotion, youge energy. Gotta love that. So
I have the last couple of years, what have you
worked on, particularly in your own stroke, your own technique,
What have you been doing to build up and have
this success at Glasgow?
Speaker 3 (01:53):
I think my biggest thing is actually probably just mostly confidence,
you know, like having the confidence and my ability that
I can finish a race like that in the position
that I was in we call it frame logging and swimming.
I was literally out of the frame for nine I'm
seen of that race, you couldn't see me, and then
all of a sudden, you know, having the confidence that
I could finish like I did as a pretty good feeling.
(02:15):
And I think that's that's probably the biggest thing that
I've I've learned over the last six months, especially now.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Aware were the other competitors of this because, like you know,
as you said, we couldn't see it. We had no idea.
Were they looking over their shoulder, did they know where
you were? But were they even expecting this? Have you
talked much of them about it?
Speaker 3 (02:34):
And he goes, yeah, we definitely had lots of conversations beforehand.
I don't think we talk about strategy at all. But
I did the same thing four years ago to Chad
and I'm not sure if they were expecting me to
come back like I did this year, But we didn't
really debrief it. I just had had a quick conversation
with Harry Turner, the guy that I ended up beating
(02:55):
on the wall, and I think he was gutted but
also happy for me.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Doesn't surprise me at all. It is the happy games, right,
That's the general feeling and the flavor out there amongst
the competitors.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Oh for sure. And I'm in the great position that
I'm in now where I'm a more of a senior
athlete on tour where you know, I know a significant
amount of athletes from all different countries and living in
Australia has probably helped build those relationships with a lot
of those Aussies anyway, so I've been racing them all year,
so yeah, look at those those relationships have have been
(03:30):
awesome for me.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Must be super cool too. I suppose justify your move
from Wellington to Auckland, then from Auckland over the ditch
to the West neand big steps. But now you can
look back and go, well, it was well worth it. It was,
wasn't it?
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Absolutely, And you know I was never going to sit
on a decision lightly it was. It was a It
was a tough move for me to especially go across
the ditch. It felt like I was changing allegiancies but
I haven't. But yeah, obviously super happy with with the
decision and and thankful it's been working out so far.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Where does this Commonwealth Games sit within your program when tapering,
when you're planning, when you're looking ahead, Where does this
sit in your mind's eye?
Speaker 3 (04:18):
This is definitely a pinnacle. You know, we plan, We've
been training all year for this, so it's definitely one
of the bigger ones on our program. And obviously you
know we put everything into this week, which is which
is great.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
So are you staying in Australia, is it your home
now for.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
The immediate future, yes, I guess until la that is
the plan. I'm hoping I can actually go back to
Australia and continue training. Hopefully. I haven't annoyed too many
people in the Australian management team, but I think it's
it's it's it's just a benefit to me, it is
to them. You know, I'm helping their guys. You know,
(04:56):
they get to see me every single day. I get
to race them every single day and they get a
benefit as well.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Very different common games from previous editions. Of course you
have been around. How does this have been compare to
previous calm games that you've been to.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
It definitely is smaller. I mean, we can you tell
when you as soon as you arrive. You know, it's
not as big. But the swimming program is exactly the same.
There's just as many athletes as there were previously. I
guess in terms of the New Zealand team athlete size.
You know, there's just not as many different sports here,
which is unfortunate. But I guess I'm just lucky that
(05:35):
swimming was one of the priority sports that got picked.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
As far as the drink that you were swimming and
you always hear tales of how fast the pool is
straight over my head but not yours? Right? Was that
a quick pool?
Speaker 3 (05:49):
I think for me it was. I heard a few
whispers the Aussies weren't to have you with the pool,
or some of the Aussies weren't to have you with
a pool, but they probably did the best out of everyone,
so honestly, I think it was. I think it was
a great pool. It's, you know, over ten years old.
It was the pool that they held the twenty fourteen
Commath Games, so it's held the test of tests of time.
(06:10):
And it's two meters deep, so it's actually probably not
regulation for Olympics Olympic size, but I think it was
fast regardless.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Hey, finally, Lewis, and thanks so much for joining us.
I'm sure we want to get back to your your
wine and you're celebrating. Tell us about the golden glow
of the Golden Girl, Zoey Hobbs. Did she come down
from that high yet? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Which we got welcome back into the New Zealand team
house with Zoe and it was pretty cool to hear
some of her stories from her experiences. Obviously, she was
running in torrential rain, out there on the track. So yeah,
hearing some of what she had to say about the experience,
I think she she mentioned her makeup was falling off
in the in the semi final and couldn't see a thing,
(06:54):
So that's probably something that we don't really experience in something.
You know, we've got goggles on and none of us
wear makeup.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
So yeah, it was so we're out there, you probably
could have swum you away to a podium finish, right,
Yeah for sure.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
I mean I didn't get to watch it, but from
what the photos that I've seen, I think goggles might
have been a good idea for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
And on that we'll leave you now get back to celebrating.
Look forward to you coming home or if that may be.
Thanks very much for your time. Really appreciate your efforts
in that Glasgow and also picking up the phone to
talk to us here and News Talk ZB on your
bro cheers.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Thanks Dussy.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talk
zed B from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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