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Swimming New Zealand heaped praise on teenage backstroker Gareth Kean who was awarded the Westpac Emerging Talent recipient at the Halberg Awards in Auckland.

Kean was selected from a group of outstanding young kiwi talent including Jacko Gill (athletics), Julia Edward (rowing) and Tyler Bleyendaal (rugby).

The 19 year old Wellingtonian won a silver medal at the Delhi Commonwealth Games in the 200m backstroke and was a finalist in the 100m backstroke. He won two gold medals in the Junior Pan Pacific Championships, breaking both the championship and New Zealand records in the process.

Kean was ranked ninth in the world at the end of 2010. He has followed in the footsteps of his coach Gary Hurring, who won the Commonwealth Games gold medal in the 200m backstroke in 1978.

“Gareth enjoyed an outstanding year. Not only has he worked tirelessly in the pool, he is an excellent role model out of it,” said Swimming New Zealand CEO Mike Byrne. “He possesses a fierce competitive spirit and improved every time he competed and the higher the stage the better he did.

“Gareth’s performances are in no small way due to the efforts of his Capital Swim Club coach Gary Hurring who has guided and nurtured his development.

“We at Swimming New Zealand look forward to continuing our support for Gareth in his quest for bigger and better things in the future.”

Kean will have little time to celebrate his award, flying out early on Friday morning to compete in the New South Wales Championships in Sydney.

For further information contact:

IAN HEPENSTALL

Media Liaison, Swimming NZ High Performance
Sports Media NZ Ltd
Tel +64 9 2327822
Mob +64 275613181
E: ian@sportsmedianz.com

Picture: Photosport