Madeira 2020: Ones to Watch - Male swimmers

Following the announcement of the female Ones to Watch, World Para Swimming now shares the list of Ones to Watch male swimmers ahead of the Madeira 2020 European Open Championships. 

The list includes names from 10 different nations who are likely to make headlines at the biggest Para swimming event before the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in August.

The Euros will take place from 16 to 22 May at the Penteada Olympic Pool Swimming Complex in Madeira Island’s capital Funchal. 

Around 400 swimmers from 48 countries will be participating at the sixth edition of the European Championships.

IBRAHIM AL-HUSSEIN, REFUGEE PARA ATHLETE

The flag bearer of the first Independent Paralympic Team to take part in the Games at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, Al-Hussein made his European Championships debut at Dublin 2018. The Syrian-born Para swimmer will compete in the men’s 50m and 100m freestyle S9.

 

SIMONE BARLAAM, ITALY

The Italian star was voted Best Male Swimmer at the London 2019 World Para Swimming Allianz Championships in Great Britain, after winning six gold medals. He will be defending four European titles in Madeira.

 

IHAR BOKI, BELARUS

The most successful Belarusian Paralympian of all times with 13 medals including 11 gold medals, Boki also left Rio 2016 Games as the most decorated athlete across all sports. He won seven titles at the last European Championships in Dublin 2018 in S13 events.
 

 

STEPHEN CLEGG, GREAT BRITAIN

The British swimmer is coming to Madeira in top form as the world record holder in the men’s 100m butterfly S12. Clegg broke the record at the World Series season-opener in Sheffield, Great Britain in March.
 

 

MAKSYM KRYPAK, UKRAINE

Ukraine's five-time Paralympic champion became a star after he won eight medals at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Krypak is the standout performer in the men’s 50m freestyle S10 and 100m freestyle S10. He helped his country break the 100-medal mark at the Dublin 2018 Euros with six podiums.

 

MARK MALYAR, ISRAEL

The Israeli swimmer made headlines worldwide after he won a gold medal at the 2019 World Championships in London, England, in the men’s 400m Freestyle S7. He also broke the world record with a time of 4:33.64seconds.

 

DIMOSTHENIS MICHALENTZAKIS, GREECE

The Paralympic champion is Greece’s biggest Para Swimming star and will be looking for his third European Championships gold in Madeira. He competes in the S8 class.

 

ARNOST PETRACEK, CZECH REPUBLIC

The Rio 2016 Paralympic champion started his career in Para swimming 21 years ago. He is coming to Madeira as the reigning European champion in the men’s 50m backstroke S4 and 50m freestyle S4.  

 

ANTONI PONCE, SPAIN

Ponce is the 2019 World Series men's winner and took eight gold medals at the Berlin World Series last year, setting three world records. Ponce won two gold at the European Championships in Dublin 2018, in the men’s 200m individual medley and100m breaststroke.

 

DINO SINOVCIC, CROATIA

The Croatian swimmer has dominated the men’s 100 backstroke S6 in recent years. Sinovcic is the reigning European and World champion.