Daniela Gimenez aims to continue winning World Series streak

"It would be amazing to be able to win a medal in Europe, but I know that the level of competition will be different to that in Sao Paulo. My objectives are always based on my own performance, to improve my times and get as close as possible to what I planned with my coach."

The World Para Swimming World Series in Sao Paulo saw three days of excellent competition, with plenty of closely-fought events and records being broken. While there were several outstanding performances across the board, few athletes walked away from Brazil happier than Daniela Gimenez, Argentina's S9 swimmer who ended the tournament with four medals, two of them gold.

Gimenez had to work incredibly hard for her medals, as the scheduling in Sao Paulo meant that her four events were spread over only two days, often with very little time between races. In Saturday’s afternoon session, only 15 minutes separated her finishing third in the Women's 100m Freestyle final and taking gold in the 100m Breaststroke, where she managed the very strong time of 1:21.46.

"I always swim in these four events, but it just so happened that the schedule in Sao Paulo meant they were very close to each other,” she explained. “It was just a coincidence, but I’m used to swimming a lot of events and I enjoy the challenge."

Gimenez has many reasons to be cheerful with her performance, not least because her aforementioned time in the 100m Breaststroke final was an entire second quicker than the mark which made her world champion in Mexico City last year. “The 100m Breaststroke has always been my main event, and I'm delighted with my time in Sao Paulo as it’s really close to my personal best."

Gimenez is no stranger to Sao Paulo, visiting often for competitions, but the World Series was the first time that she had swum at the city’s Paralympic Center, a venue which is quickly becoming a worldwide reference in competitive Para sports facilities. "I was really impressed by the Center, Brazil’s commitment to Para sports is incredible.” The S9 swimmer went on to say that she considers Brazil her “second home”. “I've got lots of friends here, like [Brazil’s S10 swimmer] Phelipe Rodrigues, who let me stay at his house during the entire competition."

With Sao Paulo’s medals safely tucked away in her hand luggage, Gimenez is now looking forward to taking part in two more World Series events this year: in Sheffield, Great Britain, between May 31 and June 3, and then the final showcase in Berlin, Germany, between June 7 and 10.

"It would be amazing to be able to win a medal in Europe, but I know that the level of competition will be different to that in Sao Paulo,” Gimenez explained, upon being asked whether she believed she had a shot at this year's World Series title. “My objectives are always based on my own performance, to improve my times and get as close as possible to what I planned with my coach."

The end goal, of course, is the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, and Gimenez and her team are already looking forward to the main event in Japan. “There are two years to go until Tokyo and we’re already feeling the pressure,” she said. “But I'm relaxed, I'm working hard and swimming well so that I’ll be ready for whatever comes."