Americas swimming records tumble at CanAms

American swimmer Kayla Wheeler enjoyed a record-breaking meet at the 2014 Speedo CanAm Para-Swimming Championships in Edmonton, Canada, between 5-7 December, breaking the 50m butterfly and 100m freestyle S2 Americas records.

Wheeler pushed hard to touch in over 50m in 1:20.29, while her record-setting 100m freestyle time was 2:49.30. The 18-year-old also won the women’s 50m freestyle, 50m breaststroke and 200m freestyle to become the most successful female swimmer of the competition.

Her teammate Robert Griswold (5:25.92) had an outstanding meet as he set an Americas record in the men’s 400 individual medley SM9.

American Roy Perkins added his name to the record books, setting a national record in the men’s 1,500m freestyle S5 in 26:11.35. Perkins also won the men’s 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle and 50m butterfly to become the most decorated male.

Wheeler and Perkins led the way with five wins each as the US team set a total of 11 American and three Americas records.

Brazilian swimmers also had a good showing in Edmonton, with Paralympic and world champions Andre Brasil, Daniel Dias and Susan Ribeiro taking victories alongside Talisson Glock.

Dias and Glock were in particularly fine form, with Dias taking over seven seconds of his own 200m breaststroke SB4 Americas record in 3:21.36. Glock also lowered the men’s 100m breaststroke SB6 Americas record by over ten seconds in 1:15.61.

There were a series of national records set by Canadian swimmers, as athletes prepare for the Toronto 2015 Para Pan American Games and July’s 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow, Great Britain.

Fifteen-year-old Samantha Ryan established new national marks in the 200m butterfly (2:52.98) and the 400m individual medley SM10 (6:09.33).

“The meet hadn’t been going well for me so I was a bit surprised to get two records,’’ said Ryan, a double bronze medallist in her national team debut at the Para Pan Pacific Championships this past August. “But I was determined to end today with a bang. I was especially pleased with my fly. I showed it is definitely improving after not doing so well in the 100 fly.’’

Aurélie Rivard (1:01.14), the 2014 Team Aquatic Supplies Female Para-Swimmer of the Year, completed a strong competition with a victory in the 100m freestyle S10, beating French four-time Paralympic medallist Elodie Lorandi (1:02.61).

‘”I was pretty stressed about racing her,’’ said Rivard, 18, a Paralympic Games silver medallist in 2012. “This was the first time I faced her since the 2013 World Championships so I really didn’t know what to expect. It was definitely a good test for the upcoming year.’’

Other Canadian records were lowered by Katarina Roxon in the 50m breaststroke SB9, Tess Routliffe in the 50m breaststroke SB7, Maxime Rousselle in the 400m individual medley SM14, Riley McLean in the men’s 50m butterfly S4, Justine Morrier in the 50m butterfly S14 and Alicia Denoon in the women’s 1,500m freestyle S10.

Full results are available at Swimming Canada’s website.

From 13-19 July, the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships will feature around 650 swimmers from over 50 countries looking to qualify for Rio 2016.

Toronto 2015 will gather around 1,600 athletes from 28 countries in 15 sports from 7-15 August, and all will also be qualifiers for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

*All records are subject to ratification by IPC Swimming. To view the full programme of events for Rio 2016 and Glasgow 2015, visit IPC Swimming's website.