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‘I must have fallen asleep’: Lewis Clareburt’s surge for gold
Savannah Lendich Jonkers • July 30th, 2026 2:16 pm
Lewis Clareburt | Photo: Dean Lewins/Photosport
Lewis Clareburt delivered one of the Commonwealth Games’ standout swims, surging past his rivals to claim gold in the men’s 200m butterfly in a jaw-dropping final 50 metres.
For much of the race, the New Zealander sat near the back of the pack as his rivals pushed got the jump.
But when the race reached its decisive stage, Clareburt powered through the pack from seventh to first, snatching the win from Australia’s Will Petric, who claimed silver.
“I think I must have fallen asleep, eh?” Clareburt told Sport Nation Mornings.
“We call it frame-mogging in the word of swimming because I was literally out of frame for 99% of that race and I apologise to New Zealand because I think I gave just about everyone a heart attack, but at least I kept everyone on their seats waiting.”
Despite the dramatic nature of the win, Clareburt said he never doubted the race would fall his way.
“For that race I honestly just had to back myself, trust my own race. I knew that they were all going to go out fast and I knew it was going to be a tough finish.
“I got asked by a South African coach if I was stressing during that race and I told him I didn't have one stress in my bone because I was so confident that the way that the race played out was going to play out.”
Lewis Clareburt | Photo: Jayne Russell/Photosport
The emotion of the victory was clear when Clareburt slapped the water after touching the wall, a release after realising his success.
“It was just such a wild ending and the celebration of the end was probably just a whole bunch of emotion coming out at once.
“I'm not a crazy emotional person, but to get that touch on the wall was pretty special.”
Clareburt has claimed three medals in total at Glasgow, with another gold in the 400m individual medley and silver in the 200m individual medley.
Listen to the full interview below:
