CMK Stratford Flyers swimmer Joshua Gilbert, 14, represented New Zealand at the Australian Age Group Championships in Adelaide from March 28 to April 2.
New Zealand sent a team of 12 swimmers lead by former Olympic coach Gary Hurring. All swimmers had to have been selected for the team based on the challenging qualifying standards set as part of the development age group programme Swimming New Zealand runs. The team performed well with eight medals won. Josh made all his finals, breaking two Taranaki and one New Zealand Record, bringing home two medals.
He made the finals in the 200m, 400m medley and 200m backstroke, broke the Taranaki 200m medley and 100m breaststroke records. He won silver in 100m breaststroke, and bronze in 200m breaststroke. He broke the New Zealand record for 100m breaststroke at 1.06.26 (his old record 1.06.45 ). Joshua received funding from TSSSA Sports, TSB Bank and Taranaki Swimming.