Australia’s Lucy defends title at 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships

Australia’s Jade Lucy successfully defended her title in the women’s 400m freestyle S14 at the 2017 International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Swimming Championships on Thursday (30 November).

Lucy (5:03.81) saw off a challenge from Mexico’s silver medallist Beatriz Resendiz De Garcia (5:07.29) at the halfway mark. The USA’s Leslie Cichocki (5:15.34) made it onto the podium once again with bronze.

The men’s 400m freestyle S14 was won by Japan’s Shunya Murakami (4:39.54). He eased to victory over Yuki Yamanaka (4:41.32) and Spain’s Luis Francisco Paredes (4:45.68) in second and third respectively.

In the women’s 400m individual medley S14, Chinese Taipei’s multiple champion Jo-Lin Tu struck gold again.

Tu is a serial medallist from World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships in past years, but in 2015 was disqualified from the race. This time however, the 26-year-old claimed the win in 6:27.31. The Czech Republic’s Adela Mikova (6:48.78) took silver. The USA’s Gina Grant (8:14.19) was third.

Japan’s Taiga Hayashida (5:15.18) secured the win in the men’s 400m individual medley SM14. South Africa’s Aaron Putz (5:32.58) followed up on his gold medal from Wednesday (30 November) with silver. The USA’s Jonathan Pierce (5:35.13) completed the podium.

It was a Japanese one-two in the men’s 200m breaststroke heats. Japan’s Shinichi Hirota (2:45.67) and Ryo Muramatsu (2:47.82) took first and second respectively. Putz (2:50.49) is in a good position to claim another medal as the third fastest.

Brazil’s Beatriz Borges Carneiro (3:06.00) went quickest in the women’s 200m breaststroke SB14. Debora Borges Carneiro (3:08.29) was second. Japan’s 2015 silver medallist Remi Watanabe (3:13.58) was third.

The men’s 50m backstroke heats saw Brazil’s Gutemberg De Souza (32.70) touch first. South Africa’s Paulse Ethan (33.08) heads through second quickest. Brazil’s Andre Luiz Bento Silva (33.58) was third.

In the women’s Australia’s Jaime-Lee Getson (35.16) led the field. Cichocki (35.45) will go for another medal in second. Japan’s Kasumi Fukui (36.47) was third.

Down syndrome

Great Britain’s Billy Birchmore (5:59.29) won his second gold medal in the men’s 400m freestyle. Two Colombians completed the podium – Jose Miguel Ramirez Gonzales (6:07.26) and Jadier Stiwen Hernandez (6:07.64) claimed silver and bronze.

Birchmore (37.44) also heads to the final of the men’s 50m backstroke in pole position. Brazil’s Caique Aimore (37.59) was second. Mexico’s Jesus Garcia Gonzalez (41.24) completed the top three.

Spain’s Camino Martinez De La Riva (6:25.96) was the victor in the women’s 400m freestyle. Mexico’s Dunia Camacho Marenco (6:29.69) claimed silver with teammate Paola Veloz Barcenas (7:02.05) in third.

In the women’s 400m individual medley South Africa’s Melisa Van Bosch (8:06.10) claimed the win.

In the women’s 50m backstroke, Mexico’s Mariana Escamilla Brana (47.85) secured gold. Compatriot Sarahi Narvaes (50.77) won silver and Estonia’s Maria Rein (51.83) took bronze.

Van Bosch (4:06.15) also won gold in the women’s 200m breaststroke. Brazil’s Kelly Da Silva Antunes (4:10.35) took silver and Estonia’s Maria Rein (4:16.12) bronze.

The men’s 200m breaststroke was won by Carlos Hernandez Ortiz (3:32.10).

Autism

Mexico’s Marco Antonio Martinez (5:35.38) claimed the win in the men’s 400m freestyle, adding yet another gold medal to the hosts’ haul.

The USA’s Anna Beem (52.11) won the women’s 50m backstroke.

Youth

Mexico’s Alejandro Alvarado Alvarado (5:06.56) won the men’s 400m freestyle, his third gold medal in two days.

Brazil’s Kaio Adriano Olivier (32.17) was the victor in the men’s 50m backstroke.

Full results are available at www.inas.org/events/results/results-2017-inas-swimming-championships

The 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships run until 3 December.

Live coverage, behind the scenes content, videos and pictures are available at World Intellectual Impairment Sport Facebook and Twitter.

Trial eligibility groups are being run in Down syndrome and autism.