Swimming: Lewis Clareburt claims stunning bronze at Commonwealth Games

New Zealand's Lewis Clareburt wins bronze in the mens 400m medley. Photo / Photosport

Lewis Clareburt has claimed New Zealand's first swimming medal in stunning fashion at the Commonwealth Games.

The 18-year-old shone to claim bronze in the 400 metre individual medley, starting strongly and holding on to stun his more experienced counterparts.

Clareburt finished in a national record time of 4.14.42, 1.3 seconds behind the gold medalist, Australia's Clyde Lewis.

The Wellingtonian shattered his personal best by over four seconds, and was stoked by his performance.

"To get a bronze first up, first ever open international competition – it's awesome.

"I just followed my plan, it's all I needed to do. I thought about my own race, did everything I needed to do, and that's how I got a medal."

New Zealand's Lewis Clareburt wins bronze in the mens 400m medley. Photo / Photosport

Clareburt led briefly but was in fourth place going into final 100 metres, but finished strongly over his freestyle leg, driving to the line despite not knowing where he was placed.

"I didn't know how many people were in front of me – I had no idea where I was. It was good to look up at the board and see I was third place with a four second PB, nothing can go better than that."

Fellow Kiwi Bradlee Ashby led through the first 150 metres but couldn't hold on, finishing fifth, four seconds outside the medals.

Elsewhere on finals day in the pool, Daniel Hunter and Sam Perry finished fifth and sixth respectively in the 50 metre butterfly, while Corey Main finished seventh in the 100 metre backstroke.

Para-swimmers Chris Arbuthnott, Jesse Reynolds and Tupou Neiufi all also missed the medals in their finales.