18-year-old Lewis Clareburt of New Zealand already made headlines as a recent addition to his nation’s 2018 Commonwealth Games roster. But the Wellington Capital Swim Club athlete has received more good news, learning he has become the first recipient of a Victoria University of Wellington swimming scholarship.
Clareburt is the recipient of one of three sport scholarships introduced at Victoria in 2018, scholarships representing a new strategy at the University to heighten focus on improving support to student athletes.
Of his protegé, Clareburt’s coach, Gary Hollywood, says: “From my perspective Lewis ranks in the top five percent of all swimmers I have coached since 1986. Lewis is a great person, a great trainer, a great competitor and a leader with great potential.” (Victoria University)
With the Gold Coast now less than 3 weeks away, Clareburt says, “I’m really looking forward to representing New Zealand. The Commonwealth Games and the Olympics have been a dream for as long as I can remember.”
Beyond the Games, Clareburt’s scholarship will help the teen earn a degree and give him a sense he’s ‘challenged himself beyond swimming.’
At last year’s New Zealand Age Group Championships, Clareburt snagged an impressive 8 gold medals. He was the Aotearoa Māori Sports Awards Junior Sportsman of the Year winner.