Golden end to Lignano for Carlotta Gilli

Italy’s Carlotta Gilli ensured it was a golden end to her home event as she added another gold medal to her tally on the final day of the World Para Swimming World Series in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy.

The 17-year-old was victorious in the women’s 100m butterfly on Sunday (27 May) to end the weekend with five medals, including two golds, from the five events she competed in at the fourth World Series event of the season.

Gilli (S13) renewed her rivalry with the USA’s Rebecca Meyers (S12) in the 100m butterfly final, but, just as it was in the 200m individual medley final on Friday, Gilli topped the standings with 979 points.

Meyers posted a score of 955 points to claim her second silver medal of the meet; adding to the silver medal she won in the 200 individual medley and her 400m freestyle gold. The US swimmer was joined on the podium by her compatriot Elizabeth Smith (S9) who finished third with 901 points.

Belarus’ Ihar Boki secured his second gold medal of the competition with victory in the men’s equivalent. The S13 swimmer posted a score of 993 points to finish ahead of the Japanese pair of Dai Tokairin (S14, 985 points) and Keichi Nakajima (S14, 981 points), who both added to their medal hauls.

Colombia’s Carlos Serrano Zarate and Brazil’s Daniel Dias both made their third trips to the Lignano Sabiadoro podium after medal finishes in the men’s 50m butterfly. Serrano Zarate (S7, 990 points) added to his 100m breaststroke gold and 200m individual medley silver by claiming silver ahead of Dias (S5, 959 points), who added to his 50m breaststroke gold and 100m freestyle silver.

The victory went to the USA’s Evan Austin (S7) with 1004 points; repeating his 50m butterfly victory from Indianapolis, USA.

Canada’s Tess Routliffe (S7, 811 points) was victorious in the women’s final finishing ahead of Germany’s Denise Grahl (S7, 771 points) and Italy’s Giulia Ghiretti (S5, 728 points), who finished second and third respectively.

Efrem Morelli of Italy claimed his second gold medal of the meet with victory in the 150m individual medley. Morelli (SM4) finished with a score of 765 points to claim the win and Italy’s seventh gold in Lignano Sabbiadoro. Silver went to Spain’s Miguel Luque (SM4, 727 points), while the bronze went to Austria’s Andreas Ernhofer (SM4, 264 points).

The World Series continues on Thursday (31 May) with the penultimate event of the competition in Sheffield, Great Britain (31 May-3 June), before the series finale in Berlin, Germany (7-10 June).

Full results from Lignano Sabbiadoro are available here.