Whakatāne swimmer Chloe Gladwin isn’t slowing down, despite the challenges that lie ahead.

Having secured a place on the New Zealand team heading to Bangkok for the Virtus Games in August, the Whakatāne Swimming Club recently hosted a 12-hour swim-a-thon to help raise funds for her travel costs. With a steady stream of swimmers taking to the pool, Chloe was grateful for the support and efforts of her fellow club members. “It’s really cool that the swim club is helping me do this,” she said.

Spending as much time in the water as possible has become a core part of the 17-year-olds’ life. Her journey began at age 8, while attending Ōhope Beach School. A newsletter advertised an introduction-to-swimming session at the Whakatāne Aquatic Centre, and from the moment her feet hit the water, Chloe fell in love with the sport.

After being diagnosed with autism, Chloe found that swimming helped her cope with the world around her. Her training extends beyond the pool, as she continues to develop strategies for navigating different environments.

“Being in the water helps me regulate myself. Swimming gives me consistency—it’s the ever-changing environments outside of the pool that are more challenging,” she said.

Chloe’s mum, Jules Gladwin, has witnessed the positive impact swimming has had on her daughter.

“It’s certainly been a journey for Chloe. Swimming has been a vehicle through which she can discover herself. She now has a great group of friends who accept her for who she is, and it’s helped her find ways to communicate,” she said.

She said Chloe’s drive and independence had often caught her by surprise.

Chloe’s dedication has already led to an impressive list of accomplishments. She currently holds 20 New Zealand records in the S19 multi-class category, as well as two world records in the II3 category.

She has also earned first, second, and third placings in the New Zealand Open Division mainstream events. Her next step onto the international Virtus stage seems like a natural progression.

Virtus is a global organisation that governs, advocates, and promotes elite sport for athletes with intellectual impairments.

Swimming has become a family affair with her mum serving as Chloe’s manager and now assistant coach for the swimming club. Chloe’s three sisters—Lottie, Tessa, and Sophie—are also part of the Whakatāne swim squad. “My sisters and I are all competitive, but we’re also really supportive of each other,” Chloe said.

Sophie contributes further by coaching young swimmers in the second-stage squad. “I enjoy coaching and teaching people. It also allows me to spend time with like-minded individuals,” she said.

Whakatāne swimming coach Mason Pickering is proud of the club’s support for Chloe’s Virtus Games journey.

“We had 24 swimmers sign up for the swim-a-thon and even more joined in that morning. It’s pretty organic—just jump in and do what you can.”

Chloe’s preparation for the Virtus Games hasn’t been without setbacks. A knee injury earlier in the year put her out of the pool temporarily.

“I blew my knee running in and out of the surf at a swim camp in January,” she said.

While the recovery required rest and a break from swimming, Chloe believes the time off offered her much-needed reflection.

“The time out of the pool helped me reflect on my swimming and direction. Now that I’m back in training, I think I’m in a better place than I would have been if the injury hadn’t happened.”

Chloe is only at the beginning of her fundraising efforts for future events.

She’s also already looking ahead to the Oceania competition—also in Bangkok—in 2026, and the Virtus Global Games in Egypt in 2027. With a fundraising target of around $8500, a Givealittle page has been set up to help with the costs.

To support Chloe’s journey, you can donate via her Givealittle page: “Help Chloe Attend the Virtus World Championships 2025.”