Brazilian swimmers prepare for Rio 2016 Test Event

More than 200 swimmers, many of them Brazilian, are preparing for the International Caixa Loterias Swimming Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which will act as a Test Event for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games between 22-24 April.

A total of 212 swimmers, including nearly 100 international athletes, are scheduled to compete.

The largest overseas delegation is Argentina, with 13 athletes. They are followed by Mexico with 11 and teams from Colombia and the USA with 10 each.

Colombian Nelson Crispin will compete against Brazil’s Talisson Glock in the men’s S6. The pair have had some exciting duels in the past, including at the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships.

In the men’s 200m individual medley SM6, Crispin took home silver ahead of Glock. However at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games, Glock beat his Colombian rival.

"He's an athlete that is growing in recent years,” Glock said. “Besides going well in the race that we swim together (200m medley), he also competes well in the 100m freestyle. I believe competing in the same pool as the Games will be a good time.”

Another Brazilian who will face his rivals in Rio is Matheus Rheine. He will be reunited with South African Hendrik Herbst and Japan’s Keiichi Kimura in the 100m freestyle S11.

"In this race, I was silver and Hendrik took bronze at the World Championships,” Rheine said. “I have not swum against Kimura for a long time but I’m looking forward to a great time this season.”

Multiple world and Paralympic champions Daniel Dias and Andre Brasil will also compete at the Test Event.

Media accreditation

Those interested in covering the event on site should complete the accreditation form http://bit.ly/1PpjPqn by Sunday (17 April).

Confirmations will be sent via email on 18 April with further information.

Spectators

Ahead of each session, 600 tickets will be distributed at Avenida Abelardo Bueno at the main entrance of the Olympic Park. The kiosk will be open one hour before the sessions begin each day.

There will be no parking on site and no taxis or similar will be allowed to enter the Park.

Competition schedule:

22 April

Session 1 - 9:30-12:30

Session 2 - From 18:30-21:30

23 April

Session 1 - 9:30-14:40

Session 2 – 19:00-21:20

24 April

Session 1 – 10:30-12:50

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Sport fans from around the world can now buy their Paralympic tickets for Rio 2016 from authorised ticket resellers (ATRs).

The IPC’s Global ATR is Jet Set Sports, and Rio 2016 tickets and packages can be purchased on the CoSport website.

Residents of Brazil can buy 2016 Paralympics tickets directly from the Rio 2016 website.