Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Youtube
Funchal 2016: Action to check out on day two
Rivalries will be reignited as some of para-swimming’s most decorated athletes compete in Funchal, Portugal. 01 May 2016
Maksym Veraksa will try to repeat as the fastest Paralympic swimmer in the world at London 2012.
Seven-time Paralympic champion Veraksa gained his unofficial title of the world’s fastest Paralympian in this event when he broke the world record in 2009.
The second day of action (Monday, 2 April) at the 2016 IPC Swimming European Open Championships in Funchal, Portugal, will see a series of highly decorated swimmers take to the pool.
Paralympic, world and European medallists Dmytro Vynohradets and Maksym Veraksa will represent Ukraine, who have topped the medals table at the last two Euros. Italian Cecilia Camellini will also renew her rivalry with Germany’s Daniela Schulte.
Here is a snapshot of what to look out for via the live coverage at Funchal2016.com.
Men’s 50m freestyle S3
World and European champion Vynohradets will continue his campaign to retain his seven titles from 2014, including from this event.
The Ukrainian has held the world title in the 50m freestyle since 2006 and also won gold at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. Italian Vicenzo Boni is his closest competitor as the bronze medallist from the 2015 World Championships, and he already picked up gold on Sunday (1 May).
Men’s 50m freestyle S12
The excitement of the 50m freestyle will continue, this time with the visually impaired swimmers.
Seven-time Paralympic champion Veraksa gained his unofficial title of the world’s fastest Paralympian in this event when he broke the world record in 2009. The time of 22.99 could be taken down again as the Paralympic world and European champion prepares for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
Women’s 100m backstroke S11
Competing near the end of day two are Camellini and Schulte. Their rivalry stretches back to Beijing 2008 when Camellini collected her first Paralympic medals.
The Italian is the world and European champion, whilst Schulte took second place on the podium at the Euros in 2014 and Worlds in 2015. Indeed, Camellini claimed bronze ahead of Schulte at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
The 2016 IPC Swimming European Open Championships run until 7 May.
Morning sessions start at 9:00am (WET) each day, whilst the evening sessions get underway at 5:00pm.
Live updates and behind the scenes content will be posted to @IPCSwimming and IPC Swimming’s Facebook.
