RIO DE JANEIRO: Four Paralympic records and one world record were lowered during yesterday morning’s swimming heats of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
Coming from the likes of Canada’s Aurelie Rivard and China’s Paralympic debutant Wenpan Huang, the finals are sure to feature exciting match-ups.
Great Britain’s Eleanor Simmonds (5:37.75) and Ukraine’s Yelyzaveta Mereshko (5:25.27) won their respective heats in the women’s 400m freestyle S6 to set up one of the most exciting events of the Paralympic Games.
Mereshko beat the British Paralympic title holder at the 2015 Worlds, handing Simmonds her first defeat since 2008 in this event. But Simmonds then broke the world record in April, only to be followed by Mereshko a month later.
But China’s Lingling Song (5:35.43), who clocked the second-fastest qualifying time, could spoil the rivalry.
Another thrilling clash awaited later last night in the women’s 100m freestyle S10 finals. Canada’s Aurelie Rivard (59.89) won her heat in Paralympic record-breaking fashion. New Zealand’s Sophie Pascoe(1:01.54) took her heat and will go for her fourth gold medal in Rio. France’s Elodie Lorandi advanced with her 1:02.24-performance.
Backstroke
In the women’s 100m backstroke S8, Great Britian’s Stephanie Millward (1:13.75) reset the Paralympic record. The world record holder will go for gold tonight.
Runner-up at the last Paralympics in London and at the 2015 Worlds, the US’s Jessica Long (1:18.92) won her heat, bettering teammate Elizabeth Marks (1:19.97). Australian Lakeisha Patterson (1:20.32) nipped world champion and fellow Aussie Maddison Elliot (1:20.79) to win the second heat.
Another Paralympic record was set, this time in the men’s 100m backstroke S8, by US’s Robert Griswold (1:05.33). He will face Paralympic and World Championship bronze medallist Oliver Hynd (1:06.12), who won a later heat. China’s Cong Zhou set an Asian record in 1:07.72 in the third heat to advance.
Later in the morning, US’s Michelle Konkoly (28.36) set her own Paralympic record in the women’s 50m freestyle S9. She will meet Australian Worlds’ bronze medallist Ellie Cole, who claimed her heat in 29.26. China’s Jiexin Wang (29.55) edged reigning world champion of Spain Sarai Gascon (29.61) in the women’s 50m freestyle S9 to take the first heat.
A new world record was set in the men’s 50m freestyle S3, as China’s Wenpan Huang (40.51) took his heat.
He will look to capture a third medal (second gold) in his Paralympic debut. Ukranian world champion Dmytro Vynohradets (42.92) followed in second, and China’s Jianping Du (46.95) came in third. Italy’s Worlds bronze medallist Vincenzo Boni (47.03) won his heat to advance.
Colombian teenager Carlos Serrano will get the chance to collect a second gold in these Games. The 18-year-old recorded the fastest time (2:40.58) in the men’s 200m individual medley SM7.
Australian World Championships runner-up Matthew Levy (2:46.04) finished behind Serrano and will look to better his bronze from London 2012.
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