In an electrifying finale to the 2024 New Zealand Swimming Championships, Taiko Torepe-Ormsby etched his name in the annals of swimming history by becoming the first-ever man from New Zealand to breach the elusive 22-second mark in the men’s 50m freestyle.
The atmosphere at the Sir Owen G. Glenn National Aquatic Centre was charged with anticipation as Torepe-Ormsby, a 22-year-old athlete hailing from Christchurch, New Zealand, stepped up to the starting block for the heats of the 50m freestyle. In a display of sheer speed and determination, Torepe-Ormsby unleashed a blistering swim, clocking in at a staggering 21.