For the first time, a Kiwi swimmer has clocked a 50 metre freestyle time of less than 22 seconds

Christchurch's Taiko Torepe-Ormsby produced the fastest swim ever by a New Zealander, at the national swimming championships in Hastings.

He touched the wall in 21.86 seconds to win his heat and set the new record in the marquee sprint event.

Torepe-Ormsby's time is also under the Olympics qualification standard.