He never swam at junior nationals and did not set a Bay of Plenty record until he was 15, but now he is a real medal prospect at the Commonwealth Games and is also progressing nicely towards Olympic Games qualification.
Capp says he is not exactly sure what happened for him to go so fast but he prepared well for the meeting.
"We had two weeks preparing on the Gold Coast and then we went to Brisbane for the Queensland State champs," Capp said. "I knew what the record was and I knew that I was capable of it and it really helped that Matthew Levings of Australia, who goes at 15:15 was in the same race. I kind of went out with him and tried to hold on."
"It is right at the start of the season so I was real happy to be around my PB pace in both the 400 medley and 400 free, so that is really good for early season and that PB in the 1500 was just awesome really.
"It tells me I am kind of in the right direction at the moment, I guess," Capp said.
Capp is a 400m medley specialist but he says the 1500m freestyle is great for showing him where his aerobic base is at.
His goals for the next three years are clearly defined, as they are for all New Zealand's elite athletes.
"Definitely next year's Commonwealth Games are the key. I am definitely going to go for the 400m medley but the 1500 (freestyle) is an option as well."
