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New Zealand’s elite swimmers can take a well-earned break after mission accomplished on the world stage this summer.

The crack Kiwi swimmers completed a remarkable month with some impressive performances at the national championships that wrapped up in Christchurch tonight.

The level of their performance, on the back of medal and record breaking efforts at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and world short course championships in Shanghai has delighted Swimming New Zealand.

“Our leading swimmers have not only produced world class performances, they are at a stage where they doing so on a regular basis,” Swimming New Zealand high performance director Clive Rushton said.

“There’s been a very impressive consistency with our top swimmers. They exceeded their performance goals in Melbourne and Shanghai – and frankly their times and efforts this week after their long campaign and the travel has been nothing short of fantastic.

“This is exciting because they are holding this standard which gives them a more stable base in which to move up again as we look to the world championships in Melbourne next year, the Beijing Olympics and beyond.”

Rushton pointed to Commonwealth Games and World Championship medalist Hannah McLean as a prime example.

“She swam 1:01 low for the 100m backstroke here which on the top of all the swimming she has done at the highest level is nothing short of fantastic. Last August her 1:01 was a real breakthrough. And now it is virtually commonplace for Hannah.”

Rushton said the elite swimmers were more mature, better prepare and more in control in training and competition.

“That’s because of the outstanding coaching they receive. And it’s also as a result of the support from SPARC, the Academy of Sport and from Swimming New Zealand funding initiatives.

“Our swimmers can remain in the pool with this support, and the environment created by the coaches means they are enjoying the challenge.”

Rushton is also thrilled with the depth in the sport with the five New Zealand relay teams breaking records in every heat and final at Shanghai.

“It has moved us up in world terms. Eighteen months ago we were in reaching distance of the world standard. Today we are within grasp of world medals.”

Rushton says he is looking for the next group of swimmers who gained international experience in Shanghai to take a step up, while he is thrilled with the standard from several young swimmers who have forced their way onto the team for the world youth championships with performances this week.

Day 5 results:

• 800m freestyle: Verity Hicks (Howick Pakuranga) 8:59.65, 1; Joyce Wiegersma (Southland) 9:03.71, 2; Ashley McDougal (Masterton) 9:13.71, 3.
• 1500m freestyle: Bryn Murphy (Waves) 1:54.46, 1; Daniel Ryan (Waterhole) 15:50.91, 2; Karl Poole (Hamilton) 15:56.54, 3.
• 100m breaststroke: Katie Bone (Primo Sundevils) 1:13.54, 1; Kelly Bentley (Capital) 1:13.65, 2; Sarah Vettoretti (West Auckland) 1:13.80, 3.
• 200m breaststroke: Glenn Snyders (North Shore) 2:18.34, 1; Richard Adamson (Aquagym) 2:23.94, 2; Matthew Gibson (Hamilton)
• 2:25.05, 3.
• 100m backstroke: Melissa Ingram (North Shore) 1:02.46, 1; Liz Coster (North Shore) 1:02.93, 2; Emily Thomas (Enterprise) 1:04.03, 3.
• 50m freestyle: Mark Herring (West Auckland) 23.60, 1; Orinoco Banse (Mt Eden) 23.66, 2; Callum Joll (Napier) 23.70, 3.
• 100m freestyle: Lauren Boyle (West Auckland) 56.68, 1; Rebecca Linton (North Shore) 58.67, 2; Emma Hotchin (North Shore) 59.12, 3.
• 100m backstroke: John Zulch (North Shore) 58.18, 1; Kurt Bassett (Mt Eden) 58.86, 2; John Gatfield (Swim City) 59.47, 3.
• 50m butterfly: Nichola Chellingworth (North Shore) 27.28, 1; Liz Coster (North Shore) 27.91, 2; Georgina Toomey (Jasi) 28.06, 3.
• 100m butterfly: Moss Burmester (North Shore) 53.13, 1; Corney Swanepoel (North Shore) 53.48, 2; Dominic Toomey (Jasi) 55.61, 3.