There were 15 world records broken during seven days of outstanding competition at the 2006 Visa Paralympic World Cup (PWC) in Manchester, Great Britain. The event brought together 352 athletes from 40 countries for a celebration of Paralympic Sport. The home team came out on top of the medal tally winning 22 gold medals.

In Swimming, South Africa’s Natalie du Toit smashed two S9 world records as she took two gold in both the women’s 100m and 50m Freestyle. Three other world records fell as Brazil’s Clodoaldo Silva broke the S9 world record in the men’s 100m Freestyle, German Kirsten Bruhn improved the women’s 50m Freestyle (S7) world record and Sweden’s Anders Olsson lowered the world record in the men’s (S6) 50m Freestyle.

Cycling also saw seven world records beaten. Darren Kenny of Great Britain was the star in the Manchester’s Velodrome as he took three golds and set two world records in the men’s 1km time trial (B/VI) and Team Sprint (mixed) with teammates Mark Bristow and Jody Cundy. Fellow Brits Anthony Kappes and guide Barney Storey took home two gold medals and broke the world record in the men’s 1km time trial (visual impairment). Other world record breaking performances included Tang Qi (CHN) in the women’s 500m Time Trial (LC3), Angela Flemming (AUS) in the women’s 500m time trial (LC2), Jirong Wang  (CHN) in the women’s 3,000m Pursuit (LC2) and Aileen McGlynn and guide Ellen Hunter (GBR) in the women’s 1km Tandem time trial (B/VI).

The Wheelchair Basketball saw some tough challenges in both the men’s and women’s competitions. Canada eventually took the gold in the men’s competition beating Australia 65:49 in the final. 2005 PWC champions Great Britain took the bronze. In the women’s competition, Mexico took the gold after beating Great Britain 37:22. Spain finished with bronze after they beat newcomers China 38:36.

British athletes had a lot of success as London Marathon winner David Weir took three gold medals in the 100m, the 200m and the 1500m. Kenny Churchill (GBR) broke the world record in winning the men’s javelin throw (F37) and Laila El Garra (MAR) achieved a world-record throw of 7.21m in the women’s shot (F40). Oscar Pistorius of South Africa also took home two golds in the men’s 100m and 200m (T44).

The Visa PWC is a global showpiece for elite disability sport and will again be staged in Manchester in 2007. The event is supported by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Visa, BBC, UK Sport, the Manchester City Council and the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

Said Mike Brace, Chairman of the British Paralympic Association (BPA): “This event has improved from last years inaugural event with greater performances and crowd support, which makes me believe that the Visa Paralympic World Cup will achieve further success in 2007."

For more information and a full round up of the results, please visit www.paralympicworldcup.org.