Learning from Lewis: Our 2026 Swim Clinic

Rutherford & Bond and King Toyota recently welcomed twelve up-and-coming swimmers from across the Wellington region to a special two-day swim clinic with Lewis Clareburt, giving them the opportunity to learn from one of New Zealand’s leading swimmers both in and out of the pool.

The first day was held at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS), where the swimmers took part in a range of sessions focused on the different areas that contribute to sporting performance.

They spent time in the pool with Lewis, received feedback on their technique and had the chance to experience the resistance pools. The programme also included gym and training sessions, along with the opportunity to learn more about Lewis’s approach to preparation and competing at the highest level.

Performance dietitian Becky Jones led a nutrition workshop, sharing practical advice about fuelling for training, competition and recovery. Our CEO, Derek Tilyard, also joined the clinic to speak about leadership, mindset and the importance of setting goals.

The second day was held at Freyberg Pool, where the swimmers returned to the water for another hands-on session with Lewis. With a focus on technique and skill development, it was a valuable opportunity for each swimmer to ask questions, receive advice and take new ideas back into their own training.

A big thank you to Harraways for providing oats and Zespri for supplying kiwifruit for the clinic. Their support tied in perfectly with the performance nutrition workshop and helped keep everyone fuelled across the two days.

Thank you also to Lewis, Becky and Derek for sharing their time, knowledge and experience, and to NZCIS and Freyberg Pool for helping us bring the clinic together.

Most importantly, thank you to the twelve swimmers who took part. Their enthusiasm, focus and willingness to learn made the two days incredibly rewarding. We hope they left with new skills, greater confidence and plenty of motivation for their upcoming training and races.

After another successful two days, we were proud to bring the clinic back for a second year and give twelve talented young swimmers the opportunity to learn from Lewis and take something new back to their own training.