New Zealand’s Zoe Crawford has made history at the 2025 Queensland Pool Rescue Championships, breaking the world record in the 100m Manikin Tow.

The 20-year-old, who represents both Mairangi Bay Surf Life Saving Club (New Zealand) and Northcliffe SLSC (Australia), clocked a blistering time of 54.77 seconds, eclipsing the previous world mark of 55.03s held by Black Fins teammate Madi Kidd, sending waves through the elite pool rescue community, said a statement from Surf Lifesaving NZ.

The record came during the Open Women’s final, where she outpaced a world-class field and showed why she’s considered one of the sport’s brightest young stars.

“I’ve been working hard with my coaches to improve my fin events for World Games coming up in August,” Crawford said.

“But to drop under 55 and break the world record here in Queensland, it’s unreal.”

Her performance underlines New Zealand’s growing strength in surf lifesaving as attention turns to the World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China.

There, athletes will compete across two days of elite pool lifesaving at the Chengdu Sport University Sancha Lake Campus.

Crawford will then compete domestically at the Aon New Zealand Pool Rescue Championships, where she is looking to qualify for the European Pool Rescue Tour.