But it is Glasgow calling her name after Caitlin Deans punched her ticket to her inaugural Commonwealth Games in Scotland next month.
The Dunedin swimmer will race in the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay and has also been given the green light for the 400m and 800m freestyle.
Fairweather, who relocated to Auckland last year, is in for a busy campaign in the women’s 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle, and the 4x100m mixed freestyle relay — alongside the women’s relay — as she hunts for her first Commonwealth Games medal.
Deans, 26, was announced as part of a 13-strong New Zealand squad yesterday and is the only current Dunedin-based athlete.
‘‘Obviously very exciting to be off to my first Commonwealth Games,’’ Deans said.
‘‘I think today ... the majority are based in Auckland, or even based over in Aussie, but I think it just shows that if you’re willing [you can] do it from anywhere.’’
Deans made her Olympic debut in Paris as part of a the 4x200m freestyle relay, alongside Fairweather, Eve Thomas and Laticia Transom, where they finished eighth.
Having experienced a pinnacle event helped Deans’ preparation, but it did not take the gloss off the latest milestone.
‘‘It definitely helps settle those nerves because it’s not a first time for something,’’ Deans said.
‘‘But in saying that, it just feels just as special as if it was my first time.’’
The women’s relay has been building momentum since the world championships in 2022, and reaching the Olympic final in Paris was a ‘‘special moment’’.
‘‘We’ve obviously had a couple new ones step in, which is super exciting. We’re just really [excited] to see what the four of us can do together.’’
Getting the chance to race individually in Glasgow in the 400m and 800m was exciting, especially considering the massive strides Deans had made in the distances in the past few years.
‘‘I’m quite excited to get to race them on the international stage.’’
Life will be hectic in the coming weeks. Alongside fitting in her swimming training, Deans is studying for her master’s degree in physiology at the University of Otago and will head to Stirling, in Scotland, for a pre-Games camp on July 11.
Deans has a long-standing relationship with Dunedin coach Lars Humer, who will guide her from afar as he has done previously when she is overseas.
Fairweather made her Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham, where she finished fourth in the 400m freestyle — 0.72sec off bronze — and fifth in the 200m freestyle.
She will race alongside Chelsey Edwards, Cameron Gray and Carter Swift in the mixed 4x100m relay.
Clareburt will be out to defend his 400m IM and 200m butterfly title and look to go better than his Birmingham bronze in the 200m IM. He will also race in the 200m freestyle.
Olympian Hazel Ouwehand has been named for her first Commonwealth Games in the 50m and 100m butterfly, alongside junior world champion Zoe Pedersen, who will race the 50m butterfly and 50 and 100m freestyle.
Para swimmer Josh Willmer will race in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB9, having won gold in the SB8 class — which is not in the Glasgow programme — in Birmingham.
Commonwealth Games Swimming team
Caitlin Deans: Women’s 400m, 800m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay
Erika Fairweather: Women’s 200m, 400m, 800m & 1500m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay, 4x100m mixed freestyle relay
Lewis Clareburt: Men’s 200m, 400m IM, men’s 200m butterfly, 200m freestyle
Hazel Ouwehand: Women’s 50m butterfly
Zoe Pedersen: Women’s 50m, 100m butterfly, 50, 100m freestyle
Milana Tapper: Women’s 50m, 200m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay
Eve Thomas: Women’s 400m, 800m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay
Chelsey Edwards: Women’s 50m, 100m freestyle, mixed 4x100m freestyle relay
Cameron Gray: Men’s 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly, mixed 4x100m freestyle relay
Carter Swift: Men’s 100m freestyle, mixed 4x100m freestyle relay
Josh Willmer: Men’s 100m breaststroke SB9
Amber George: Women’s 50m, 100m backstroke
Savannah-Eve Martin: Women’s 50m, 100m backstroke
