Mexico City 2017: Carlotta Gilli breaks world record as Italy go second in medals table

Italy’s Carlotta Gilli broke the women’s 100m butterfly S13 world record to take her country to the second place in the medals table on day three (4 December) of the World Para Swimming Championships in Mexico City.

The 16-year-old clocked 1:02:64 to finish ahead of former world record holder Rebecca Meyers from USA (1:06:42). Spain’s Ariadna Edo Beltran completed the top three (1:10:13). It was Gilli’s third gold medal in Mexico and one of five won by Italy on the third day of the Worlds. Only China had as many victories on Monday.

Italy picked up two golds in the morning session thanks to Francesco Bettela in the men’s 50m backstroke S1 and 2017 World Series winner Monica Boggioni in the women’s 100m freestyle S4. Federico Morlacchi opened the evening session with a win in the men’s individual medley SM9 before Simone Barlaam took gold in the men’s 100m freestyle S9 (with Morlacchi taking bronze).

China still tops the medals table following another great performance from Haijiao Xu. The class S8 swimmer conquered his third gold in Mexico City (26.87) making a one-two in the men’s 50m freestyle with Guanglong Yang (27.26). Mexico’s Luis Armando Guillen (27.66) completed the podium.

The home fans had more reasons to celebrate in the women’s 100m freestyle S6 final in which Vianey Trejo Delgadillo took Mexico’s third gold in the World Championships. She clocked 1:21:00 leaving Egypt’s Ayaallah Tewfick with silver (1:22:97) and USA’s Sophia Herzog (1:25:78) with bronze.

Brazil’s Daniel Dias showed another dominant performance to claim his 27th world title in the men’s 50m backstroke S5 (35.70) with Vietnam’s Thanh Tung Vo (40.36) in second and Turkey’s Beytullah Eroglu third (42.05).

First golds

At 31-years-old, Cuba’s Lorenzo Perez Escalona won his first gold medal in a World Championships in the men’s 100m freestyle S6 (1:05:17). It was also his country’s first medal in Mexico City. In a repeat of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games final Escalona left Colombia’s Nelson Crispin in second (1:06:45). Italy’s Antonio Fantin took bronze (1:08:11).

Another three nations celebrated their first gold medal in the World Para Swimming Championships on day three. Kazakhstan’s gold was a major surprise, with Natalya Zvyagintseva (44.68) beating both Spanish legend Teresa Perales (45.76) and Norway’s Sarah Louise Rung (46.33) to take the title.

Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg won the women’s 200m individual medley S14 (2:36:92) with Germany’s Janina Breuer taking silver (2:39:27) and Spain’s Michelle Morales bronze (2:41:41).

The men’s 200m individual medley S14 saw an Iceland victory with 16-year-old Robert Isak Jonsson (2:19:34). South Korea’s Wonsang Cho finished second (2:21:73) and Brazil’s Felipe Caltran completed the top three (2:24:88).

Late show from Spain

Spain saved best for last making a one-two in the final event of the day. Nuria Marquez, who had already won the women’s 200m individual medley SM9, was close of her second gold medal in the 100m freestyle S9 but was beaten by compatriot Sarai Gascon by 0.45.

Gascon claimed her fourth gold in World Championships with a time of 1:03:07. Marquez clocked 1:03:52 and USA’s Natalie Sims took bronze with 1:05:95.

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