Mexico City 2017: 69 medals up for grabs on day one of Worlds

A total of 69 medals will be up for grabs on the first day of competition (2 December) at the World Para Swimming Championships in Mexico City, as 23 finals are contested.

Morning session

USA's Rio 2016 Paralympic bronze medallist Robert Griswold is hoping to win the first gold medal as he starts as favourite in the men's 100m backstroke S8. Argentinian swimmers Pipo Carlomagno and Lucas Poggi will be his main opponents.

Brazil's seven-time Paralympic champion Andre Brasil will begin his quest for multiple World golds in the men's 100m backstroke S10. Hungary seek to land gold in the women´s equivalent through Bianka Pap, who aims to claim her first medal at her third World Championships.

The men's 100m breaststroke SB14 will feature a Nordic showdown as Norway's Rio 2016 Paralympian Adam Wenham faces Iceland's Robert Jonsson, who is making his Worlds debut in Mexico City.

US teenage swimmer McClaim Hermes is the favourite on paper in the women's 100m freestyle S11.

London 2012 and Rio 2016 most decorated Paralympian Ihar Boki is hoping to add further gold medals to his trophy cabinet as he swims the men's 100m backstroke S13. The Belarus legend has so far won 15 golds at World Championships.

Evening session

The men's 100m backstroke S9 will arguably be a three-horse race featuring France's Ugo Didier, Italy's Federico Morlacchi and Indonesia's Jendi Pangabean. Rio 2016 gold medallist Nuria Marques Soto is one of Spain's big medal hopes for day one in the women's equivalent.

Another Spaniard who will battle for gold is double Paralympic champion Michelle Alonso Morales in the women's 100m breaststroke SB14. Teenage swimmer Marian Polo Lopez in the women´s backstroke S13 and two-time Rio 2016 bronze medallist Maria Delgado Nadal are also hoping to add medals to Spain's tally.

USA's Tharon Drake won one silver and one bronze at Glasgow 2015 and is hoping to take a leap forward in Mexico City when he swims the men's 100m freestyle S11.

Brazil's most decorated Paralympian ever Daniel Dias will be another big name competing on day one of competition, when he jumps into the water in the men's 100m freestyle S1-5. France's Theo Curin, Vietnam's Thanh Tung Vo and Colombia's Moises Fuentes will try to prevent Dias from adding another gold to his tally.

The women's 100m freestyle S5 will be arguably one of the most exciting races with multiple Paralympic champions Teresa Perales of Spain and Sarah Louise Rung of Norway facing-off. But China´s Li Zhang is also ready to cause an upset.

Rung will also swim the women's 100m breaststroke SB4, an event she won at Rio 2016.

Colombia are hoping Rio 2016 gold medallist Carlos Serrano can achieve the country's first victory at the World Championships when he competes in the men's 100m freestyle S7. The women´s equivalent will feature one of the most exciting head-to-heads, with USA's McKenzie Coan swimming against Germany's Denise Grahl.

Cuba's first and only Paralympic champion ever Lorenzo Perez Escalona will be the strong favourite in the men's 400m freestyle S6, while China's Rio 2016 gold medallist Linqlinq Song is confident about claiming gold for her country in the women's 400m freestyle S6.

Andre Brasil will go for his second gold of the day in the men's 50m freestyle S10. But it will not be easy as he will swim against fellow Brazilian Philipe Rodrigues, who aims to win his first Worlds title after claiming six silvers and three bronze.

China's Chen Yi appears as favourite for gold in the women's equivalent. Her compatriot Li Junsheng targets gold in the men's 100m breaststroke SB4 after achieving the fastest qualifying time.

The men's 4x100m freestyle relay 34pts will be the last race of the day, with teams from Argentina, Brazil, Italy and USA competing.

More information on the World Para Swimming Championships, including live coverage, results and athlete profiles can be found on the Mexico City 2017’s website.