Pictures: Rachael McKenna
It’s a double celebration for Kiwi swimming stars Caitlin Deans and Kane Follows – not only are they fulfilling their childhood dreams to represent New Zealand at the Olympics, but they’re doing it alongside each other as a couple too.
Caitlin reveals their selection is a “dream come true” for the pair, who have dedicated years of early starts and hard work to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
“It’s pretty cool to have this experience together. We’re so excited to cheer each other on in Paris,” she reveals.
This is the first time Kane has made the premier Aquablacks swimming team. He’s still buzzing after his scintillating swim at the New Zealand Championships in April, which saw him not only meet the Olympic qualifying time for the 200m backstroke, but smash the Kiwi record too.
“The adrenaline was pumping and I didn’t know what my time was until I touched the wall and saw everyone going nuts on the side of the pool,” Kane grins.
Caitlin, 24, who will race in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the Games, is a long-distance specialist, who finished in the top 10 in the 1500m freestyle at this year’s World Championships after making her debut for New Zealand back in 2019. She admits to nerves before her races and found it even harder to watch Kane’s do-or-die swim at the champs.
“I couldn’t watch until the last 50 metres when I knew he had a good third split and would hopefully qualify.”
Having missed out on other New Zealand teams and staying at home while Caitlin represented Aotearoa at two World Championships, Kane says his selection for Paris was particularly sweet.
“Everyone calls me granddad because I’m 27 and one of the oldest in the team. In other countries, it’s normal for swimmers to be in their mid-twenties. It’ll be great for Caitlin and I to have each other’s support on the biggest stage in the world. To have someone who knows you well and can help if you’re nervous or upset.”
It was swimming that brought Caitlin and Kane together, although they only got to know each other in 2022.
“We look back at all the competitions and national camps we were both on over the years, and can’t believe we never met!” smiles Caitlin.
Two years ago, both swimmers were part of a Kiwi team racing on the European circuit and finally connected during a pre-camp in Majorca. However, Kane jokes it was still some time before Caitlin realised he was interested in her.
“We both had groups of mates we were hanging out with and I kept asking Caitlin to come for coffee,” he recalls. “She’d say no and after a handful of times, I thought, ‘She’s not interested. I’d better stop embarrassing myself.’”
Caitlin, on the other hand, has no recollection of her rejections. “I must have been in my own world and had no idea what was going on!”
Once they started racing, Caitlin and Kane found themselves in the same finals sessions at the pool. That’s where the connection finally grew.
“The more we got talking, the more I realised how easy-going Kane is,” reveals Caitlin. “We got along straightaway. At the end of the circuit, it was obvious we both fancied each other. I was staying on in Europe for the World Champs though, and we lived at different ends of the country, so didn’t put anything on it.”
However, the couple did end up staying in close contact during and after the World Champs. Then an unexpected series of events saw Kane move from Auckland to Caitlin’s home city of Dunedin in January 2023.
“My previous coach left 18 months out from the Olympic trials and suggested I talk to Caitlin’s coach, Lars Hummer. He runs a fantastic programme in Dunedin so it was suggested I see if he would take me on. Luckily, he did – and Caitlin being here too made it a win-win.”
Also training under Lars at Dunedin’s famous Moana Pool is fellow Olympian Erika Fairweather, 20. She’s New Zealand’s first-ever world champion, and has been Caitlin’s training buddy since they were children. Incredibly, the three Dunedin-based swimmers make up a third of the Kiwi Olympic swimming team.
Following the official team announcement, Caitlin and Kane celebrated with a night and day “chilling out” at a remote luxury hut. After, they headed back to Dunedin, where they live together at Caitlin’s father Peter Dean’s house.
“When we got home, my family had decorated the house with French flags. We had bottles of Champagne and French food,” she tells. “It was fantastic.”
Kane says being in a relationship with someone who’s in sync with the crazy hours swimmers keep makes life easier. “It’s great to be with someone who is happy to go to sleep early and wake up with you at 4.45am. I’m still not much of a morning person, but Caitlin is always up and at it. She gets my toast ready in the morning so I can have an extra two minutes in bed.”
Their differing personalities are also a strength, he adds. “We’re good at giving each other space and not being overbearing, both on race day and in normal life.”
Time out is unusual during peak training times and sleep is always a priority for the couple. However, they try to go out for a coffee once a week, tells Caitlin. “On weekends when we’re not racing, we like to cook together and if we do have a long weekend off, which is rare, we try to get away.”
After the 2024 Olympics, the couple is planning a month’s travel in Europe. They would love to live and work over there one day. Alongside swimming, Kane has a degree in business management and marketing from the University of Hawai’i. He works in Dunedin as a part-time secondary school teacher. After completing a Bachelor of Science majoring in physiology, Caitlin would love to study medicine. She aims to become a doctor once she finishes her swimming career.
For now, their focus is on lighting up the pool in Paris.
Kane smiles, “It will be amazing to be part of the Olympic Village. To mingle with high-performance athletes from all the different sports and maybe even eat dinner alongside some of the world’s biggest stars.”
Whatever happens in the pool, the down-to-earth couple’s bond is still top priority, Kane reveals.
“It’s important to remove yourself from your sport and not let it define your relationship. We’re so excited to be going to the Olympics, but we’re also two people who enjoy doing the same thing, and spending time together in and out of the pool.”
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