July 27, 2024 • 9 mins
There's disappointment among Kiwi sports fans this morning, as Erika Fairweather comes up short.
The Kiwi swimmer's finished fourth in the women's 400 metre freestyle final at the Paris Olympics.
NZ Herald sports journalist Michael Burgess says it was a shame, but she came close.
"You gotta feel for her - we've seen this before in swimming, we saw Moss Burmester finish 4th as well in Beijing. It's the toughest place to finish."
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The first official day of the competition in Paris is
over heartbreaking this morning for Erica fair Weather.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
His fee Weather got a kick. Can't she find enough
to get her bronze medal? Tetmiss coming for home? It's
her gold medal? Ari and Tetmash. When's gold? Somemer Macintosh third,
Ladecae food and it's fourth I think for Erica Fairweather,
(00:40):
Ari and Tetmas for gold medal, Summer Macintosh seconds, Katie
Ladicky third. It is fourth for Erica Fairweather.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
His Erica was media immediately post race.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Obviously a little bit gonna to get fourth. Nobody wants
to be there. But I've done myself pout. I mean,
that was an Olympic final and I just came forth
in her so can't complain too much. How much is
you leave it all out there? I mean that was
everything I had in the bank today. It wasn't the
performance I wanted to put down at all. I've been
much faster and I think I could go much faster,
but that's the nature of sport. You can't always be on.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Michael Bridgess is in Paris for ensid in me and
he joins me. Now, good morning, Michael, Good morning, Good
morning Erica Fairweather. Fourth in the four hundred meters only
just it was so close.
Speaker 5 (01:29):
It was so close. You've got to feel for her.
We have seen this before in swimming. We saw moss
bermuster Beck and Beijing finished fourth as well. It's the
toughest place to finish. One hell of a race from her,
but from the whole field, a race that will be remembered.
But yeah, it was a real shame to feel whether
she had qualified third, of course, third fastest, so she
(01:52):
was definitely seen as a contender for metal and she
showed that. But as she admitted after the race, it
probably wasn't her best performance, you know, and so she
paid the price by the smallest possible margin.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Yeah, I thought she was very honest, bit gracious at
the same time about that at the end of the
race she's only twenty. Great potential for the future.
Speaker 5 (02:17):
Well she has. And I think the thing is here
is that her, Lewis, Clairebert and a lot of the
other swim squad have really changed the perception of swimming
in New Zealand. I've certainly raised the standards and they've
probably raised our expectations. Another swimm who was saying to
the other day, you know that they have dragged the
level up so much, so it is exciting. We've got
(02:39):
a lot of swimmers pretty young. They'll be around for
at least another cycle, maybe more. It just depends if
they want to keep doing it, because it's one of
the hardest sports there is. But yeah, she is only twenty,
so so on that side of things, it is certainly
very promising for the future.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
But it's not over, is it, Michael. I mean I
think Erica is back in the pool again tonight.
Speaker 5 (02:59):
Yes, yes, she's back. She's back in the pool tonight.
As you say, she's back in the pool for heats
and then and then hopefully another final and then the
big event. When I said tomorrow, I'm getting confused myself,
but yeah, the big event tomorrow in Paris and someday
in Paris anyway, is should be Lewis Clarebert in the
(03:21):
four hundred meter individual medley. This is kind of the
one that I guess everyone has seen as this could
be the well, this is the biggest chance for us
to break this long running drought in swimming of having
someone in the podium this along with fair Weather today.
Because Lewis is a real gun, he's a real star.
He's feeling really confident. We spoke to him a few
(03:42):
days ago. So he's got his heats in the morning
Paris time, and then his final at night. So that
will be in terms of events that will stop the
nation tomorrow. I'd say that will certainly be the big one.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Now we see that the Canadian foot Canadian football has
received their punishment for spying on New Zealand. What do
you make of the punishment?
Speaker 5 (04:05):
It's big, it's big, It's really big. You know. I've
been following football for a long time and to be
deducted six points, I guess it shows how serious FIFA
have taken this because I was expecting financial sanctions. To
be honest, I wasn't sure about points. We've probably had
the head coach send home, the assistant coach sent home,
(04:26):
the analyst sent home, and I guess the thing I
was wondering about is where the FIFA would be prepared
to punish the players, because that's essentially what they're doing.
And you've got to wonder how much the players knew
about this. I'm hearing probably not that much. It was
more about the management and all their planning and trying
to get benefits out of it. So this is really
(04:46):
tough on the players, but it also is a line
in the sand from FIFA and the IOC because this
was such a bad, bad look for the sport.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
If we just run through a few things which happened overnight,
Luca Jones is through to the next round in the
canoe slalom, the stream team, they completed their dressage, they
set forth, They've got their cross country next. The men
seven though they managed to take fifth and watched France
take gold.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
Michael, Yeah, that was absolutely incredible, It really was. It
was a career highlight actually to be here at the
stud to front and see France play Fiji in the final.
Absolutely remarkable atmosphere. The noise that the crowd created is
something I don't know if I've heard that noise before,
(05:38):
and I've covered some that level of noise, and I've
covered some big events in my time, but it was
just just amazing. It really was. The outpouring of passion
and emotion. You just feel how much it meant. Some
of the fans were telling me that, you know, it
was a little bit of redemption for the Cup last year.
Not completely, of course, but they did make the point that,
you know, this is our moment, this is our chance
(06:00):
at the Olympics on a global stage in rugby, in
the form of rugby anyway, to make some amends for
what happened last year, and they certainly did a spectacular
performance in the final. Anton DuPont As already a hero,
now be an absolute legend the way he has come
into the seventh team and really made the difference. And yes,
(06:22):
we have to mention the All Black sevens. I thought
it was very impressive the way they responded and they
were absolutely devastated losing that quarterfinal. No one expected that.
Everyone thought they'd be fighting for a medal, so to
lose the quarter final, have a day to think about it.
But they came out, played really tough today, played two
(06:45):
very good opponents, won both matches, finished fifth, which was
as high as they could have finished, and I guess
just finished finished the tournament with credit because men sevens
is getting so competitive that it is getting really really
hard to fight for these medals.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
You mentioned the atmosphere in the stadium there, Michael, what
has been the what's the atmosphere like in Paris? Just
on the streets?
Speaker 5 (07:12):
Really good, really good. I've been here almost a week now.
In the first few days I was wondering because I
wasn't seeing too many you know, supporters and fans around.
And We've been told Francesca about you know, the five
six seven million people coming to Paris for these games,
which is remarkable, but that's what happens when you have
a games in Europe. Everyone just floods in. But I
(07:34):
did notice yesterday walking around before the opening ceremony, suddenly
there were just all these people on the streets like
they've just arrived. There were you know, American fans, and
there were some Cubans, some Indians and Bulgarians. Just everywhere
you look there were fans with their jackets and their
T shirts, and so that really built the buzz. And
then the other thing I'd say is the opening ceremony,
(07:57):
they just got everyone so excited. My overriding memory will
be walking through the streets of Paris last night about
midnight or twelve thirty. I think I was trying to
find a way home because everything was sort of blocked
off and closed, but all the people just singing and
laughing and dancing and just so happy and excited after
(08:18):
the opening ceremony. So that kicked off the Olympics, I
would say, in the best possible way. And so the
buzz is well and truly here after. You know, there
had been some talk and I think I did a
couple of stories about it where the locals weren't that
happy about having the Olympics. But I'm not feeling that
sentiment right now.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Michael Bougeres, thank you so much for your time.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
Oh you're welcome, and it's really great to be able
to report from here and report on what will I
think will be a very very special Olympics.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Also worth noting overnight, the Rollers had a good start
to their campaign. Hockey, the men lost to India three too.
The Ollie Whites lost to the USA for one.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
For more from the Sunday session with Franchessica Rudkin, listen
lived us Talks there be of nine am Sunday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The first official day of the competition in Paris is
over heartbreaking this morning for Erica fair Weather.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
His fee Weather got a kick. Can't she find enough
to get her bronze medal? Tetmiss coming for home? It's
her gold medal? Ari and Tetmash. When's gold? Somemer Macintosh third,
Ladecae food and it's fourth I think for Erica Fairweather,
(00:40):
Ari and Tetmas for gold medal, Summer Macintosh seconds, Katie
Ladicky third. It is fourth for Erica Fairweather.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
His Erica was media immediately post race.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Obviously a little bit gonna to get fourth. Nobody wants
to be there. But I've done myself pout. I mean,
that was an Olympic final and I just came forth
in her so can't complain too much. How much is
you leave it all out there? I mean that was
everything I had in the bank today. It wasn't the
performance I wanted to put down at all. I've been
much faster and I think I could go much faster,
but that's the nature of sport. You can't always be on.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Michael Bridgess is in Paris for ensid in me and
he joins me. Now, good morning, Michael, Good morning, Good
morning Erica Fairweather. Fourth in the four hundred meters only
just it was so close.
Speaker 5 (01:29):
It was so close. You've got to feel for her.
We have seen this before in swimming. We saw moss
bermuster Beck and Beijing finished fourth as well. It's the
toughest place to finish. One hell of a race from her,
but from the whole field, a race that will be remembered.
But yeah, it was a real shame to feel whether
she had qualified third, of course, third fastest, so she
(01:52):
was definitely seen as a contender for metal and she
showed that. But as she admitted after the race, it
probably wasn't her best performance, you know, and so she
paid the price by the smallest possible margin.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Yeah, I thought she was very honest, bit gracious at
the same time about that at the end of the
race she's only twenty. Great potential for the future.
Speaker 5 (02:17):
Well she has. And I think the thing is here
is that her, Lewis, Clairebert and a lot of the
other swim squad have really changed the perception of swimming
in New Zealand. I've certainly raised the standards and they've
probably raised our expectations. Another swimm who was saying to
the other day, you know that they have dragged the
level up so much, so it is exciting. We've got
(02:39):
a lot of swimmers pretty young. They'll be around for
at least another cycle, maybe more. It just depends if
they want to keep doing it, because it's one of
the hardest sports there is. But yeah, she is only twenty,
so so on that side of things, it is certainly
very promising for the future.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
But it's not over, is it, Michael. I mean I
think Erica is back in the pool again tonight.
Speaker 5 (02:59):
Yes, yes, she's back. She's back in the pool tonight.
As you say, she's back in the pool for heats
and then and then hopefully another final and then the
big event. When I said tomorrow, I'm getting confused myself,
but yeah, the big event tomorrow in Paris and someday
in Paris anyway, is should be Lewis Clarebert in the
(03:21):
four hundred meter individual medley. This is kind of the
one that I guess everyone has seen as this could
be the well, this is the biggest chance for us
to break this long running drought in swimming of having
someone in the podium this along with fair Weather today.
Because Lewis is a real gun, he's a real star.
He's feeling really confident. We spoke to him a few
(03:42):
days ago. So he's got his heats in the morning
Paris time, and then his final at night. So that
will be in terms of events that will stop the
nation tomorrow. I'd say that will certainly be the big one.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Now we see that the Canadian foot Canadian football has
received their punishment for spying on New Zealand. What do
you make of the punishment?
Speaker 5 (04:05):
It's big, it's big, It's really big. You know. I've
been following football for a long time and to be
deducted six points, I guess it shows how serious FIFA
have taken this because I was expecting financial sanctions. To
be honest, I wasn't sure about points. We've probably had
the head coach send home, the assistant coach sent home,
(04:26):
the analyst sent home, and I guess the thing I
was wondering about is where the FIFA would be prepared
to punish the players, because that's essentially what they're doing.
And you've got to wonder how much the players knew
about this. I'm hearing probably not that much. It was
more about the management and all their planning and trying
to get benefits out of it. So this is really
(04:46):
tough on the players, but it also is a line
in the sand from FIFA and the IOC because this
was such a bad, bad look for the sport.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
If we just run through a few things which happened overnight,
Luca Jones is through to the next round in the
canoe slalom, the stream team, they completed their dressage, they
set forth, They've got their cross country next. The men
seven though they managed to take fifth and watched France
take gold.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
Michael, Yeah, that was absolutely incredible, It really was. It
was a career highlight actually to be here at the
stud to front and see France play Fiji in the final.
Absolutely remarkable atmosphere. The noise that the crowd created is
something I don't know if I've heard that noise before,
(05:38):
and I've covered some that level of noise, and I've
covered some big events in my time, but it was
just just amazing. It really was. The outpouring of passion
and emotion. You just feel how much it meant. Some
of the fans were telling me that, you know, it
was a little bit of redemption for the Cup last year.
Not completely, of course, but they did make the point that,
you know, this is our moment, this is our chance
(06:00):
at the Olympics on a global stage in rugby, in
the form of rugby anyway, to make some amends for
what happened last year, and they certainly did a spectacular
performance in the final. Anton DuPont As already a hero,
now be an absolute legend the way he has come
into the seventh team and really made the difference. And yes,
(06:22):
we have to mention the All Black sevens. I thought
it was very impressive the way they responded and they
were absolutely devastated losing that quarterfinal. No one expected that.
Everyone thought they'd be fighting for a medal, so to
lose the quarter final, have a day to think about it.
But they came out, played really tough today, played two
(06:45):
very good opponents, won both matches, finished fifth, which was
as high as they could have finished, and I guess
just finished finished the tournament with credit because men sevens
is getting so competitive that it is getting really really
hard to fight for these medals.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
You mentioned the atmosphere in the stadium there, Michael, what
has been the what's the atmosphere like in Paris? Just
on the streets?
Speaker 5 (07:12):
Really good, really good. I've been here almost a week now.
In the first few days I was wondering because I
wasn't seeing too many you know, supporters and fans around.
And We've been told Francesca about you know, the five
six seven million people coming to Paris for these games,
which is remarkable, but that's what happens when you have
a games in Europe. Everyone just floods in. But I
(07:34):
did notice yesterday walking around before the opening ceremony, suddenly
there were just all these people on the streets like
they've just arrived. There were you know, American fans, and
there were some Cubans, some Indians and Bulgarians. Just everywhere
you look there were fans with their jackets and their
T shirts, and so that really built the buzz. And
then the other thing I'd say is the opening ceremony,
(07:57):
they just got everyone so excited. My overriding memory will
be walking through the streets of Paris last night about
midnight or twelve thirty. I think I was trying to
find a way home because everything was sort of blocked
off and closed, but all the people just singing and
laughing and dancing and just so happy and excited after
(08:18):
the opening ceremony. So that kicked off the Olympics, I
would say, in the best possible way. And so the
buzz is well and truly here after. You know, there
had been some talk and I think I did a
couple of stories about it where the locals weren't that
happy about having the Olympics. But I'm not feeling that
sentiment right now.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Michael Bougeres, thank you so much for your time.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
Oh you're welcome, and it's really great to be able
to report from here and report on what will I
think will be a very very special Olympics.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Also worth noting overnight, the Rollers had a good start
to their campaign. Hockey, the men lost to India three too.
The Ollie Whites lost to the USA for one.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
For more from the Sunday session with Franchessica Rudkin, listen
lived us Talks there be of nine am Sunday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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