Stars align in Singapore: 26 world titles up for grabs on opening day

The world’s top Para swimmers are set to make waves at the Toyota World Para Swimming Championships – Singapore 2025, which kicks off on Sunday (21 September) at the OCBC Aquatic Centre. 

Running until 27 September, the event marks the first time the World Championships will be held in Asia, promising a week of elite competition and historic moments.

More than 580 athletes from 75 nations will compete at Singapore 2025, including several Paris 2024 champions beginning their journey in the new Paralympic cycle towards Los Angeles 2028. 

The star-studded list of athletes to watch includes Brazil’s Gabriel Araujo, who captured hearts in France during last year’s Paralympic Games; Italy’s Simone Barlaam, who claimed six gold medals at the last World Championships in Manchester 2023; USA’s Para swimming legend Jessica Long; and Singapore’s own hero, Yip Pin Xiu. The S2 swimmer is responsible for all seven of Singapore’s Paralympic gold medals, making her a true national icon.

The Toyota World Para Swimming Championships – Singapore 2025 will be streamed live on the Paralympic YouTube channel.  

🔎 Check out these beauties that will be up for grabs at the Toyota World Para Swimming Championships — Singapore 2025!

Who will take them home? 👀

🔜 Let the Worlds begin!#ParaSwimming #Singapore2025 pic.twitter.com/gomdu4Ozxb

— Para Swimming (@Para_swimming) September 18, 2025

Day One highlights

Day one will see 26 world champions crowned, with the men’s 400m S8 opening the programme. Italy’s Alberto Amodeo, the reigning Paralympic and world champion, will defend his title.

One of the day’s most anticipated races will come next, the women’s 400m S8 – featuring Jessica Long, who will be aiming for her 38th World Championships gold medal. She will face tough competition from Italy’s Xenia Palazzo, the reigning world champion, and Great Britain’s Alice Tai, who finished behind Long in the Paris 2024 final.

Also on day one, China’s Yuyan Jiang, the 2025 Laureus Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability, begins her campaign in the women’s 100m backstroke S6. Jiang won seven golds from seven events at Paris 2024 and will compete in five individual events at the OCBC Aquatic Centre.

In the men’s 50m freestyle S11, reigning champion Rogier Dorsman of Australia will face Paralympic champion Keiichi Kimura of Japan in a thrilling matchup.

The women’s 100m breaststroke SB9 will crown a new world champion in front of a very special guest: Chantalle Zijderveld, the Paralympic and world champion who retired from competitive swimming after Paris 2024, is attending Singapore 2025 as press attache for the Dutch delegation. Her teammate Lisa Krueger, silver medallist at Manchester 2023 and Paralympic bronze medallist, is a strong contender to keep the title in Dutch hands.

The women’s 50m freestyle S10 will wrap up the action on day one. 

Complete competition schedule, medallists and records will be found here.

You can find all day one finals below (all times – local time Singapore)

Singapore 2025 - Day 1 Finals

17:30 Men's 400m Freestyle S8 

17:38 Women's 400m Freestyle S8 

17:47 Men's 100m Breaststroke SB9 

17:51 Women's 100m Breaststroke SB9 

17:57 Men's 50m Breaststroke SB2 

18:02 Women's 50m Breaststroke SB2

18:08 Men's 50m Freestyle S5 

18:13 Women's 50m Freestyle S5

18:28 Men's 100m Butterfly S13 

18:32 Women's 100m Butterfly S13 

18:37 Men's 100m Backstroke S6 

18:42 Women's 100m Backstroke S6 

18:58 Men's 200m Freestyle S14 

19:04 Women's 200m Freestyle S14 

19:10 Men's 200m Individual Medley SM7 

19:16 Women's 200m Individual Medley SM7 

19:37 Men's 50m Freestyle S11 

19:42 Women's 50m Freestyle S11 

19:47 Men's 50m Breaststroke SB3 

19:52 Women's 50m Breaststroke SB3 

20:12 Men's 100m Backstroke S12 

20:16 Women's 100m Backstroke S12 

20:21 Men's 100m Breaststroke SB4 

20:27 Women's 100m Breaststroke SB4 

20:44 Men's 50m Freestyle S10 

20:48 Women's 50m Freestyle S10