Back to paralympic.org
World-Para-Swimming-header-logo

Citi World Series: Finland’s Khalili dominates pool in final meet in Cairo

Khalili clinches five gold medals to propel Finland to top of medals even as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and hosts Egypt shone with podium finishes as 2024 Para Swimming calendar officially concluded 09 Dec 2024
An athlete at the finish line
Finland’s Nader Khalili (S14) emerged as the most decorated athlete in the competition, triumphing in men’s 200m and 400m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 100m breaststroke and 100m backstroke besides a silver in the 200m medley race.
ⒸEgyptian Paralympic Committee
By Victor Pereira | For World Para Swimming

The 2024 Para Swimming calendar officially concluded after an exciting final Citi Para Swimming World Series meet in Cairo, Egypt, over the weekend.

Finland’s Nader Khalili (S14) emerged as the most decorated athlete, claiming the most titles in the competition. He triumphed in the men’s 200m and 400m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 100m breaststroke, and 100m backstroke events, leaving the Egyptian capital with five gold medals and a silver in the 200m medley race.

The Finnish swimmer dominated the pool at the New Capital Sports Complex, as his closest rivals on the medal table could only manage two victories each.

This included Uzbekistan’s Azizbek Boynazarov, Kazakhstan’s Natalya Zvyagintseva, Egypt’s Ayaallah Tewfick, and Neutral Paralympic Athlete Krystsina Yeshchyk.

Boynazarov (S8/SM8) won the men’s 50m freestyle and 200m medley events, also earning silver in the men’s 100m butterfly and bronze in the 100m breaststroke finals.

Sardor Bakhtiyorov (S7) added to Uzbekistan’s haul with four medals – triumphing in the men’s 50m butterfly, besides silver in the 50m and 100m freestyle, and the 100m backstroke.

Azizakhon Karimova (S6) rounded out Uzbekistan’s podium finishes in Egypt, earning bronze in the women’s 50m freestyle.

 

Home Pride

Cheers and applause echoed through the New Capital Sports Complex as the crowd celebrated local athletes’ performances during the three-day competition.

Ayaallah Tewfick (S6) proudly represented Egypt atop the podium twice, winning the women’s 100m and 400m freestyle events. Tewfick also added two more medals – taking the silver in 50m freestyle and bronze in the 100m breaststroke.

The Egyptian flag also flew high in the men’s 50m breaststroke, thanks to Youssef Elsayed (SB3) and in the women’s 100m butterfly, courtesy of Wardshan Elzakzouk (S9).

Elzakzouk completed her medal collection with silver in the women’s 200m medley and bronze in the 400m freestyle.

Egyptian pride extended to other medalists, including Zeyad Kahil (S5), who claimed silver in the men’s 200m freestyle, and Hady Ahmed Abdalla (S9), who earned bronze in the men’s 100m freestyle. Malak Farg (S10) also took bronze in the women’s 100m backstroke.

Zvyagintseva (S6/SM6) triumphed in the women’s 100m backstroke and 200m medley while earning silver in the 400m freestyle. Kazakhstan also secured a silver medal through Alina Dubinina (S8) in the women’s 100m freestyle.

Yeshchyk (S10/SB9) claimed gold in the women’s 50m freestyle and 100m breaststroke, adding a bronze in the 100m freestyle.

India also celebrated a gold, thanks to the efforts of Abdul Indori (S5) who won the men’s 50m backstroke and added a bronze in the 50m butterfly.

 

Looking forward to 2025

With the Citi Para Swimming World Series in Egypt, the 2024 Para Swimming calendar has officially concluded.

Since February, the Series has travelled across the globe with stops in every continent.

Before Egypt, the Series visited the Americas with meets in Indianapolis, USA, in April, and Guadalajara, Mexico, in November.

Europe hosted events in Aberdeen, Great Britain, in February; Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy, in March; Berlin, Germany, in May; and Paris, France, in June.

Oceania welcomed the competition in Melbourne, Australia, in February, while Asia provided a stunning backdrop in Singapore, where next year’s World Championships will take place.

The 2025 calendar has been announced, with seven of the nine host locations already revealed.
 

Related Topics

Swimming
Nader Khalili

Related Stories

View More