Citi World Series: Tomita leads Japan's impressive medal haul

The Citi Para Swimming World Series Singapore 2024 witnessed numerous outstanding performances as athletes pushed their limits to achieve personal bests and set new records this weekend (17 to 19 May). 

The Japanese athletes stood out, showcasing their country's strength in Para swimming, closing the competition as the most victorious nation among the 21 participants. 

They collected six gold, six silver, and five bronze with Paralympic medallist Uchu Tomita leading the medal charge with two gold and a silver medal. Tomita (S11) triumphed in the men’s 100m and 400m freestyle and finished second in the 100m butterfly event.

“I wanted to swim in my personal best time but couldn’t. I changed some of my swimming forms for this race [the men’s 400m freestyle event]. However, after 50m, I could swim good enough. It was good for points and then, maybe, next time I can achieve my personal best. I will prepare for the next race”, said the three-time medallist at Tokyo 2020.

Japan was also represented on the top of the podium by four other swimmers. Among the women, Tomomi Ishiura (S11) in the 100m freestyle, An Nishida (S7) in the 50m butterfly, while Takayuki Suzuki (SB3) in the 50m breaststroke and Kaede Hinata (S5), 50m backstroke, were the male gold medallists.

Hong Kong, Spain in top 3

Following Japan on the medals table, Hong Kong also made their strong presence felt with 14-year-old Cheuk Yan Ng (S6), the youngest athlete competing in Singapore, scooping up the gold in women’s 100m breaststroke and, two bronze medals in the 50m butterfly and 200m medley events. 

“I’m happy because it’s my personal best. And I still have room to improve,” she said. “I will try to improve my starting and turning and strokes to prepare for Paris.”

Ng’s teammates Yui Lam Chan (S14) and Wai Lok Tang (S14) were in charge of collecting the other two gold medals for their nation. Chan triumphed in the women’s 100m butterfly, finished second in the 200m medley and 100m breaststroke, and grabbed a bronze in the 200m freestyle, same event that Tang took home a gold medal in the male’s race.

Spain counted on the experience of seven-time Paralympic champion Teresa Perales to complete the top 3 in the medals.

Perales (SB1/S2) collected golds in the women’s 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle events in addition to a silver medal in the 200m freestyle race. 

“I’m very happy because it was a European Record [4:43.76 in the women’s 200m freestyle S2] and I didn’t expect it. I was looking for it but it’s hard for me to race so long. 

“The breaststroke event is not my specialty, it’s very hard for me to swim only with one arm. The 50m breaststroke is like 1,000 meters in crawl but I did my best”, Perales said.

Her teammate Beatriz Lerida Maldonado (S9) grabbed two silver medals, in the 100m backstroke and 400m freestyle.

Hosts’ performance 

Wei Soong Toh (S7) grabbed the only gold medal for Singapore in the three-day competition. She triumphed in the men’s 50m butterfly and finished third in the 100m freestyle.

Paralympic champion Pin Xiu Yip had to be content with a silver and a bronze in the women’s 50m backstroke and 100m freestyle events, respectively.

Four other nations had their flag on the top of the podium during Singapore 2024. 

South Korea was represented twice by Inkook Lee (S14) who won golds in the men’s 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly. Lee still took home a silver medal in the 100m freestyle event.

Kazakhstan, Thailand, and Philippines were other golden nations in the Citi Para Swimming World Series Singapore 2024 whose detailed results can be found here.

Individual ranking

Valeriia Shabalina and Rodion Berdnik topped respectively the female and male individual ranking of the Citi Para Swimming World Series Singapore 2024.

Shabalina (S14) collected four gold medals as she triumphed in the 200m and 400m freestyle, 200m medley, and 100m backstroke while Berdnik (S14) grabbed gold in the men’s 100m breaststroke and 200m medley in addition to a silver medal in the 200m freestyle event.

Two more before Paris

The Citi Para Swimming World Series 2024 has two more meets scheduled before the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
After a two-week break, the action will restart in Berlin, Germany for a three-day meet starting on 30 May followed by Limoges, France in June.

The World Series 2024 will then resume in November with the second American meet in Mexico and Egypt in December.