Help Amelia “Bug” McEwan Represent New Zealand at the Junior World Championships in Argentina 🇳🇿

At just 14 years old, Amelia McEwan, better known around pool decks, beaches, and basically half the world as “Bug” has been named in the New Zealand Junior World Championship team by Swimming New Zealand.

Now we need your help to get her there.

Bug is quickly becoming one of New Zealand’s most exciting young endurance athletes — but whilst some may know her as an athlete, she’s just as well known for being friendly, funny, and full of chaos in the best way both in and out of the water. She competes at a high level in swimming and surf lifesaving, and somehow manages to talk to and befriend more athletes in a day than most people do in a season.

Some of her recent results include:

• Bronze medal in the 2km swim at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships (“The Aussies”) on the Gold Coast

• Winner of the:

- NZ Open Water Championships 5km (13–14 female)

- 500m Open Water Secondary School 13/14y old

- Secondary School Aquathon 2026, Mount Maunganui

- of both the 1.25km and 500m Sand to Surf races, overall fastest female in both

- multiple events at Oceans'26

Bug also holds multiple NZ Surf Life Saving Pool Championship records.

Representing New Zealand in Argentina is an incredible opportunity, but international sport comes with major costs — flights, accommodation, team fees, uniforms, travel, and competition expenses.

If you can’t donate, please share this page — you never know who might see it and want to back a young Kiwi athlete.

Let’s make it happen for Amelia “Bug” McEwan 🇳🇿💙