Bonn, Germany – The 2006 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Swimming World Championships came to an end on Friday after seven days of top-level competition. The event was held in Durban, South Africa, under the organization of Disability Sport South Africa.

From 2 to 8 December, a total of 549 athletes from 49 countries took part in one of the largest Swimming competitions for athletes with a disability, after the Paralympic Games.

Two swimmers proved themselves to be the most outstanding in the pool. Jessica Long (USA) and Wang Xiaofu (China) represented themselves at their best by smashing five world records each. Both were named “Disabled Swimmers of the Year” by the Swimming World Magazine this week.

Competing in the women’s S8 division, Long brought home global standards in the 100m free (1:07.03 min), 400m free (4:53.14 min), 100m fly (1:13.25 min) and 200m Individual Medley (2:43.60 min) as well as swimming on the USA’s 400m free relay world-record team (34-point). In total, Long won nine gold medals at the event.

In the men’s S8 division, Wang Xiaofu set world records in the 50m free (26.83 sec), 100m free (57.74 sec), 400m free (4:33.37 min), 100m fly (1:01.53 min) and 200 Individual Medley (2:25.74 min). He finished the Championships with five gold medals and one silver.

The overall medal tally:

For more information and a full list of results, please visit the official website at http://www.dissa.co.za. For highlights of the event, please visit www.paralympicsport.tv.

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Notes to the Editor:

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. The IPC organizes the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games, and serves as the International Federation for 13 sports, for which it supervises and co-ordinates the World Championships and other competitions. The IPC is committed to enabling Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and to developing sport opportunities for all persons with a disability from the beginner to elite level. In addition, the IPC aims to promote the Paralympic values, which include courage, determination, inspiration and equality.

Founded on 22 September 1989, the IPC is an international non-profit organization formed and run by 162 National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) from five regions and four disability specific international sports federations (IOSDs). The IPC Headquarters and its management team are located in Bonn, Germany.

For further information, please contact Steffi Klein, IPC Communication Managerr, on tel: +49-228-2097-230, e-mail: steffi.klein@paralympic.org or go to www.paralympic.org.