Day three finals set to be close at World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Champs

Women dive into the pool at the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships

The finals of day three at the 2017 International Federation for Intellectual Impairment (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Swimming Championships promise to be an exciting affair after a series of close heats highlighted the morning action on Friday (1 December).

In the women’s 200m freestyle S14 Australia’s 2015 bronze medallist Jade Lucy (2:25.21), qualified fastest. The USA’s Leslie Cichoki (2:25.80) was amongst the quickest yet again, leading Mexico’s defending champion Beatriz Resendiz De Garcia (2:25.82) into the top three.

In the women’s 100m backstroke Australia’s Jaime-Lee Getson (1:17.21) led 2015 bronze medallist Cichocki (1:17.47) to the wall. Japan’s Kasumi Fukui (1:18.08) was third.

Brazil’s 2015 silver medallist Gustavo De Oliveira Nunes (28.76) went quickest in the men’s 50m butterfly S14. Nunes’ Teammates Felipe Caltran Vila Real (28.84) and Andre Luiz Bento Sila Filho (29.05) were second and third.

France’s Nathan Maillet (1:12.10) led the men’s 100m backstroke S14 heats. His compatriot Simon Blaise (1:15.00) was second. Putz (1:15.52) qualified for his second final in third.

In the men’s 200m freestyle S14 heats Japan’s Shunya Murakami (2:07.22) led the field. France’s Nathan Maillet (2:11.22) was second and Macau’s Yu Chia Chen (2:17.22) third.

South Africa’s Aaron Putz (2:19.29) also qualified for the final in fourth: “I feel good actually. I can’t be unhappy with that, it was a good morning swim,” Putz said. “I just kept my pace like I was meant to and put it up each 50.”

There was further Brazilian success in the women’s 50m butterfly. Ana Karolina Soares (32.67) and Deborah Borges Carneiro (33.46) will go for further golds this evening as the first and second fastest, respectively. Australia’s Nikesha Sophia Harding (34.34) completed the top three.

Down syndrome

Mexico’s Jesus Garcia Gonzalez (2:41.67) is in pole position in the men’s 200m freestyle heats. Colombia’s Jaider Stiwen Hernandez (2:41.89) was close behind in second. Great Britain’s Billy Birchmore (2:44.37) was third.

In the women’s equivalent Mexico’s Dunia Camacho Marenco (3:06.31) was first. Spain’s Camino Martinez De La Riva (3:09.21) and Paola Veloz Barcenas (3:17.43) were second and third respectively.

Brazil’s Caique Aimore (1:19.86) qualified fastest in the men’s 100m backstroke heats. Birchmore (1:24.13) was second and Hernandez (1:26.94) third.

In the women’s 100m backstroke heats Mexican teammates Marianna Escamilla (1:43.82) and Daniela Michelle De Lorea (1:49.31) were first and second. Estonia’s Maria Rein (1:51.44) completed the top three.

In the men’s 50m butterfly heats Mexico’s Jose Enrique Melo Cruz (35.41) led the field. France’s Axel Belig (35.48) was not far behind his rival in second. Spain’s Carlos Hernandez Ortiz (35.99) completed the top three.

France’s Cleo Renou (46.75) led the women’s 50m butterfly heats. Spain’s Camino Martinez (47.90) was second and Brazil’s Kelly Da Silva Antunes (50.75) third.

Youth (under-17)

Mexico’s Alejandro Alvarado Alvarado (2:20.40) claimed gold in the men’s 200m freestyle. Alvarado’s teammate Nathum Hernandez Cetina (2:25.39) secured silver.

Certina (32.58) went on to claim gold in the men’s 50m butterfly.

Kaio Adriano Olivier (1:08.06) was the victor in the men’s 100m backstroke, claiming another title for Brazil.

Full results are available here.

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.