New Zealand’s surf lifesaving skills on proud display at 2024 Paris Olympics

Surf Life Saving New Zealand’s (SLSNZ’s) proud history of sporting excellence has once again been on display at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with numerous athletes competing who have come through to elite international having participated in junior surf lifesaving programmes.

The Nipper programme is a breeding ground for many future athletes and Surf Life Saving are proud to have contributed to the sporting beginnings of these athletes.

Grant Clancy of Red Beach Surf Life Saving Club (and previously Piha Surf Life Saving Club) has made his Olympic debut at Paris this year, as part of the K4 500m crew that has progressed through to the semifinals on Thursday 8 August, via a second place in their quarter-final on Tuesday 6 August.

We spoke to Grant’s Dad, Tom, who is currently over in Paris supporting his son. Tom is also a patrolling lifeguard at Piha, as are Grant’s brother and sister.

Grant started as a nipper out at Piha Surf Life Saving Club aged six, and Tom says that Grant wouldn’t be where he is today without surf lifesaving.

“The atmosphere over here is amazing, and we’re buzzing with excitement. Grant is well aware that he has a massive amount of support back home – it takes a village, or in Grant’s case clubs to make a world-class athlete. We owe them all a huge thank-you – Red Beach Surf Life Saving Club, the North Shore Canoe Club, but most especially Piha” says Tom.

“A huge amount of coaching and guidance from parents, coaches, and other clubbies has supported Grant along the way – from his beginnings as a nipper through to his first overseas competitions with Canoe Racing New Zealand (CRNZ).

Dame Lisa Carrington, a five-time Olympic gold medallist and New Zealand's most successful Olympian, is another Olympic athlete with a surf life saving background. She began her sporting career at the Whakatane Surf Life Saving Club at the age of 10, where she dabbled in multiple events to find her true talent.

Back in 2012, she told SLSNZ about the significant impact the Nipper programme had on her development as an athlete.

“If it was not for the Nipper programme and the great encouragement, I have had throughout my life from Surf Life Saving and CRNZ, I really do believe I would not be in the position I am in today," she said.

Many other athletes competing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games got their start with surf lifesaving, with many still involved as athletes and patrolling surf lifeguards.

Erika Fairweather, who just missed out on bronze in the 400m Freestyle swimming event, is linked to St Clair Surf Life Saving Club in Dunedin, while fellow swimmer Lewis Clareburt, who has been a member of New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth teams since he first competed at the Bahamas Commonwealth Youth Games in 2017, has close ties to Lyall Bay Surf Life Saving Club in Wellington.

Many other athletes across a range of disciplines from athletics to water-based sports are closely tied to surf lifesaving. Canoeist Aimee Fisher is linked to Ocean Beach Kiwi Surf Life Saving Club in the Hawke’s Bay, sprinter Zoe Hobbs to Fitzroy Surf Life Saving Club in New Plymouth, and Alicia Hoskin to Waikanae Surf Life Saving Club in Gisborne. Canoeist Lucy Matehaere is linked to St Clair Surf Life Saving Club, fellow canoeist Tara Vaughan is a member of Mairangi Bay Surf Lifesaving Club and men’s competitor Kurtis Imrie is linked to Paekākāriki Surf Lifeguards. Kayak slalom competitor Luka Jones is a former member of Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service, while swimming freestyler Eve Thomas is tied to Ōrewa.

SLSNZ CEO Steve Fisher says that surf lifeguards often excel at the Olympics as they’re tied into a high performing and supportive grassroots community from a young age.

“Our surf lifeguards are often driven by a strong sense of purpose and commitment to saving lives, which translates into high levels of motivation and dedication to their training. On top of that, they receive a huge amount of support from their clubs, and get to experience competition from a young age through our surf sport programmes and events,” he says.

“We’re so proud of our athletes who are competing at an international level, and can’t wait to see how many of our younger athletes develop into future Olympians.”

Photo credit: Jamie Troughton.