Josh Willmer won Commonwealth Games gold in 2022.
Photo: Photosport
Attending his first Commonwealth Games as a teenager, para-athlete Josh Willmer admits to not bringing his best to Birmingham.
But four years older and wiser, Willmer is not taking his place in Glasgow for granted.
“I was a 17-year-old and I just mucked around the whole time, to be honest with you. So, to come here and have that change of mindset and obviously come in training really well, I’m ready to smash it.”
Willmer may not have been mentally prepared for the 2022 Games, but he delivered in the pool, winning gold in the men’s SB8 100 breaststroke.
He will not be defending his title in Scotland however, moving up a racing class to SB9, with the SB8 not on the Games programme.
“Most likely medals are going to be hard to get for me, the higher the class, the less disabled you are, but I’m just going to go up there and try my best. And if I get a medal, I get a medal, but mainly going there to see how good I can do. My personal best at the moment is a 1:10, so if I could go 1:09, 1:08, I reckon I’d be pretty stoked.”
Willmer attended his first Commonwealth Games at just 17.
Photo: Steen Bech / www.photosport.nz
A left-arm amputee below the elbow since birth, Willmer insists the move to a higher class does not lower expectations.
“I’d say the pressure’s more on myself, way more on, because obviously I want to go win a medal. So I’m going to do everything I can to win that medal.”
Still just 21, Willmer said he is swimming the best times of his career.
“I’m feeling good at the moment. Obviously we had opens a few weeks ago and doing a [personal best] there, I’m definitely ready to go.”
Willmer is part of a 13-strong squad, headlined by 2024 world champions Erika Fairweather and Lewis Clareburt.
With a storied history in swimming, Willmer is confident the New Zealand team can live up to the legacy.
“We have a really good team, the standards are awesome. We all get along with each other and I love them, they’re like my own family.”
NZ Team – Swimming – Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games
Erika Fairweather: Women’s 200m, 400m, 800m & 1500m Freestyle; 4x200m Women’s Freestyle Relay; 4x100m Mixed Freestyle Relay
Lewis Clareburt: Men’s 200m & 400m Individual Medley
Hazel Ouwehand: Women’s 50m
Zoe Pedersen: Women’s 50m Butterfly
Caitlin Deans: 4x200m Women’s Freestyle Relay
Milana Tapper: 4x200m Women’s Freestyle Relay
Eve Thomas: 4x200m Women’s Freestyle Relay
Chelsey Edwards: 4x100m Mixed Freestyle Relay
Cameron Gray: 4x100m Mixed Freestyle Relay
Carter Swift: 4x100m Mixed Freestyle Relay
Josh Willmer: Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB9
Amber George: Women’s 50m Backstroke
Savannah-Eve Martin: Women’s 50m Backstroke
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