Diego Lopez Diaz shines in Indianapolis

The final day of the Indianapolis 2019 World Series did not disappoint the crowds at the Indiana University Natatorium on Saturday.

Diego Lopez Diaz was the star of the day clocking a world record, an Americas record and leading a Mexican podium sweep.

In the preliminary round in the morning, Lopez Diaz broke the men’s 50m butterfly S3 world record with a time of 54.02. Then he returned in the finals to take gold in the men’s 150m individual medley multi-class.

The Mexican broke the SM3 Americas record with 02:55.20 and was joined by fellow countrymen Arnulfo Castorena (silver) and Marcos Zarate (bronze).

There was more podium for Mexico with an impressive showing from the Gutierrez Bermudez brothers. Juan Jose finshed first and Raul second in the men’s 200m individual medley SM6.

China’s Lichao Wang also produced great performances taking gold in the men’s 50m backstroke multi-class and then got back in the pool not long after to earn his second victory in the men’s 50m butterfly multi-class.

“It’s my first time competing in the United States and I’m really enjoying it. Everyone has been very friendly and warm to me. I’m hoping to continue improving upon my performances today,” Wang said.

Three more Americas records were shattered in the preliminaries, as Mexico’s Cristopher Tronco earned a time of 03:58.18 in the men’s 150m individual medley SM2, and the USA’s Elizabeth Smith and Mikaela Jenkins set records in the women’s 100m butterfly S9 and the women’s 100m butterfly S10.

Jenkins also won gold in the final round later that night, followed by Hungarian Zsofia Konkoly in second place, and fellow USA swimmer Leslie Cichocki in third.

USA racked up nine medals on day three, as Mallory Weggemann and McKenzie Coan took the top two spots in the women’s 50m butterfly multi-class, with Mexico’s Naomi Somellera Mandujano placing third.

USA’s Lawrence Sapp and Robert Griswold claimed gold and silver in the men’s 100m butterfly multi-class, with Simone Barlaam of Italy claiming his third medal after a world record performance the day before.

Turkey’s Sumeyye Boyaci won gold in the women’s 50m backstroke multi-class, with American Alyssa Gialamas and Mexican Haidee Aceves Perez joining her on the podium for silver and bronze.

With a series of new world records and a number of Americas records broken in Indianapolis, the second stop on the circuit came to a close on Saturday night. The World Series will travel next to Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 25 to 27 April and Glasgow, Great Britain, from 25 to 28 April.

More information about the 2019 World Series can be found here.