Swimming: Pascoe will lead NZ swim surge at Comm Games

Sophie Pascoe will lead the NZ swim team on the Gold Coast. Photo / Photosport

Glasgow 2014 double gold medallist showing the way for 19-strong national aquatics team.

A 19-strong aquatics team will represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games.

It is headlined by Glasgow 2014 double gold medallist and nine-time champion Sophie Pascoe, who at 24 is the most experienced athlete on the national team.

Glasgow representatives, Corey Main, Matthew Stanley and diver Liam Stone are returning for their second Commonwealth Games.

"We're delighted to name such a strong team that will sees Para sports and able-bodied athletes compete alongside each other at Gold Coast 2018," New Zealand Olympic Committee chief executive Kereyn Smith said.

"There is some real depth of experience in the team which will be invaluable as young swimmers like Gabrielle Fa'amausili and Bobbi Gichard head to their first Commonwealth Games."

Para sport events are integrated and contested as part of the main programme next year and Gold Coast will host the largest Para-sport programme in Commonwealth Games history.

Rio Paralympians Jesse Reynolds and Tupou Neiufi will debut in their first Commonwealth Games, alongside newcomers Chris Arbuthnott and Celyn Edwards.

Graeme Maw, Paralympics New Zealand programme manager said Para swimmers have been performing exceptionally well throughout 2017 and will look to Sophie Pascoe to lead the team. "We have so much experience in the group with Sophie Pascoe who will undoubtedly be a force in the pool. Alongside Sophie will be Jesse, Tupou, Chris and Celyn, we are very excited with the group of Para swimmers competing on the Gold Coast," he said.

Rio Olympians Bradlee Ashby and Main both achieved the automatic qualifying times after standout performances at the 2017 world championships. Ashby broke his own 200m individual medley national record and Main set two personal bests to make the final of the 100m backstroke.

Australian-based Laticia-Leigh Transom, 16, has had a breakout year, highlighted by first international outing at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas where she won two golds, two silvers and a bronze medal.

Completing the team list for Gold Coast is former double junior world champion Gabrielle Fa'amausili and newcomers Carina Doyle, Daniel Hunter, Sam Perry, Georgia Marris, Bobbi Gichard and Bronagh Ryan.

Olympian Lizzie Cui will join Glasgow Commonwealth Games diver Liam Stone, competing in the women's and men's 1m and 3m springboard respectively.

NZ teams
Swimming: Chris Arbuthnott, Bradlee Ashby, Carina Doyle, Celyn Edwards, Gabrielle Fa'amausili, Helena Gasson, Bobbi Gichard, Daniel Hunter, Corey Main, Georgia Marris, Tupou Neiufi, Sophie Pascoe, Samuel Perry, Jesse Reynolds, Bronagh Ryan, Matthew Stanley, Laticia-Leigh Transom.
Diving: Liam Stone, Lizzie Cui.