Team Surf Life Saving NZ

Surf Life Saving New Zealand

Every year, Surf Life Saving patrols over 80 beaches, visits over 450 schools to teach kiwi kids how to stay safe at the beach and makes more than 1,000 rescues.

Swimming for Surf Life Saving New Zealand is Nick Tongue, John Steel, Rick Wells and Dale Wright.

Nick Tongue – Captain

Nick swum for Auckland from the age of 9 and represented New Zealand from 1994 until 1998. He competed at all the major events during that time, including the 1996 Olympic Games.

Nick also competed at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the 1994 Commonwealth Games where he was a silver medallist as part of the 4x100m freestyle relay team.

Nick has also coached junior and masters swimming and is a board member of Swimming New Zealand.

John Steel

John Steel is a two time Olympic swimmer attending both the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlana.

He also represented New Zealand in swimming at the 1990 and 1994 Commonwealth Games where he picked up a bronze as part of the 4x200m freestyle relay team and silver as part of the 4x100m freestyle relay team repsectively.

John has also been to the FINA World Short Course Championships in 1998 and Pan Pacific Championships in 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995 and 1997.

Rick Wells

Rick has attended two Commonwealth Games, in 1982 as a swimmer and in 1990 where he won gold in triathlon.

He was also a New Zealand Surf Life Saving Champion in 1981 and 1983 and again represented Surf Life Saving in 1985.

In 1982 and 1983 Rick was the New Zealand record holder for the 200m freestyle.

In 1993 he was awarded an MBE for services to sport.

Dale Wright

Dale is a former swimmer and rugby professional. Between 1983 and 1985 he held multiple New Zealand and Australian records and champion titles.

In 1986 Dale was the New Zealand 50m backstroke champion and swam for the New Zealand team competing at the Australian Open Championships.

Switching to focus on rugby in 1987 Dale was an Auckland Rugby Junior representative until 1991. From 1993 to 1999 he carried on his rugby career playing professionally in Japan.