Manchester 2023: Day one to crown 26 new world champions

Twenty-six finals will kick of the Manchester 2023 Allianz Para Swimming World Championships on Monday (31 July) in the newly reopened Manchester Aquatics Centre. 

The 11th edition of the Para Swimming Worlds will bring together 538 athletes from 67 countries until 6 August. It is the third time the competition takes place in Great Britain following Glasgow 2015 and London 2019.

The men’s 400m freestyle S8 will see the first world champions crowned in Manchester starting 17:35 (British Summer Time – BST). Italy’s Alberto Amodeo will be defending his world title from Madeira 2022 in his second Worlds appearance. Monday’s programme will conclude with the women’s 50m freestyle S10 schedule to 20:39 (BST).

Dutch Para swimmer Chantalle Zijderveld is one of the stars of the 50m race as the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist. Manchester 2023 marks her return to the World Championships after a year’s break. 

“I had a break after Tokyo [Paralympics], it was a long year but I’m happy to be back. And honestly, when it comes to medals I’m just gonna try my best and see what’s out there. Tomorrow [Monday] I will just touch the wall and see what we’ve got,” said the two-time Paralympic champion and three-time world champion. “I’m planning on just enjoying this week and enjoying being back, having fun and seeing all my friends again.”

Zijderveld will be appearing in two events on day one as she will also be in the water for the women’s 100m breaststroke SB9, one of the two events she won gold at the last Paralympics in Tokyo.

She joined Brazil's Gabriel Araujo, Ireland's Ellen Keane, Italy's Simone Barlaam and Great Britain's Maisie Summers-Newton and Scott Quin in a press conference on Sunday (30) at the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport.

Motivated for more gold

Another Tokyo 2020 champion making a first appearance in Manchester on day one is Brazil’s Araujo, in the men’s 50m breaststroke SB2. The 21-year-old took three gold at his World Championships debut in Madeira last year.

“I worked really hard to be on top and I know that the other swimmers did it too. It will not be easy [to repeat the results] but it motivates me to continue on top,” Araujo said.

The Brazilian is also famous for his podium dance and said he has some new moves planned for Manchester 2023.

“Sometimes I plan them ahead and rehearsal a bit, but others time it is just how I feel in the moment. So let’s see,” Araujo added with his trademark smile. 

Italy topped the medals table in the last two editions of the World Championships in London 2019 and Madeira 2022. One of the stars of the Italian team, Simone Barlaam collected five golds in the British capital and went one better last year in Madeira. Now he is back for more.

“I don’t like to think too much about the gold medals not to add more pressure to it. But I worked hard to be here and I hope to help my team to achieve great results again,” said Barlaam who will be in action in five individual events. 

His last appearance in a World Championships on British soil saw Barlaam produce one of the most memorable moments of London 2019 as he tied with teammate Federico Morlacchi for the 100m butterfly S9 title. Asked if he thinks he can repeat the result, Barlaam laughed:

“It depends on Federico [Morlacchi]. The funny story about that shared gold is that after the race our coach joked that he was unhappy because we swam too slow.”

Crowd's support

Hosts Great Britain will be represented by 27 Para swimmers and among them there are plenty of household names such as two-time Paralympic champion and four-time world champion Maisie-Summers Newton.

A newcomer at London 2019, she is now one of the names to beat and will be defending her Madeira 2022 world tiles in the 200 m individual medley SM6, 400m freestyle S6 and 100m breaststroke SB6.

“You want to do well for your coach and also for your family and friends as well. So I think that adds a bit of pressure, but in a good way. Having as many spectators as we possibly can screaming our names does kind of spur you on a little bit more,” Summers-Newton said. 

“I love visiting Manchester. I think it is a bit of the culture it’s got that is really, really cool. I’m really excited for the World Championships,” she added. 

The Manchester 2023 Allianz Para Swimming World Championships will be streamed live on World Para Swimming website and Facebook channel with geoblocking restrictions in certain territories – you can find more information about where to watch the competition here.

Complete schedule and results can be found on the Manchester 2023 website.