Swimmers leave Copenhagen with multiple podiums

Athletes concluded the opening World Para Swimming World Series on Sunday (12 March), leaving Copenhagen, Denmark, with multiple wins and podium finishes under their belts.

 

Norway’s four-time Paralympic champion Sarah Louise Rung upheld her reputation as one of the world’s best swimmers with two victories in mixed classification races on Sunday alone.

 

Rung, an SB4 swimmer, secured 965 points to lead the women’s 50m breaststroke.

 

Sweden’s Maja Reichard (949, SB11) and Germany’s Verena Schott (864, SB5) were second and third, respectively.

 

Rung (994, SM5) then followed that up with her second win of the afternoon, and third of the meet, in the women’s 200m individual medley.

 

The USA’s Paralympic and world champion from the SM8, Jessica Long (902), made another podium appearance in second. That added to her two wins from Saturday (11 March).

 

Hungary’s Bianka Pap (843, SM10) was third.

 

“I feel great, it’s good to back in the pool and compete again,” Rung said. “It’s not my best races but I’m happy with my times. Now I can use these times and these races to evaluate where I stand and continue working from there.

 

“This is a great start to see where I stand [in the lead up to the 2017 World Championship].”

 

The USA’s triple Paralympic champion Meyers reached the podium twice, doubling her medal haul from Saturday.

 

The 22-year-old S13 swimmer was victorious in the women’s 200m individual medley, leading the field with 1,001 points.

 

Germany’s Naomi Maike Schnittger (956, S12) enjoyed her latest top three finish with second. Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg (925, S14) was third.

 

The women’s 100m butterfly saw Meyers claim her second podium of the day, finishing third behind Hungary’s Zsofia Konkoly (883, S9) and Ireland’s Ellen Keane (871, S9) in first and second, respectively.

 

“It’s been a great weekend, I’m really happy with my times and I’m glad I was able to make podium in most of my events, so I’m really happy about that,” Meyers said.

 

“It’s pretty cool. It was so much fun to come here to Copenhagen, I’ve always wanted to come to Copenhagen. It was really fun to meet athletes from other countries and catch up with some friends from Rio [2016 Paralympic Games].”

 

Keane (2:42.87) later swam to first in the women’s 200m individual medley SM9, one of two events to be run as single class on Sunday.

 

Laura Martens Christensen (3:05.39) sealed second for hosts Denmark. Sweden’s Emma Danielsson (3:38.21) rounded off the top three.

 

The men’s events featured multiple top three finishes for Danish swimmers.

 

Lasse Winther Andersen (799, S10) grabbed gold for the hosts in the men’s 100m butterfly, to the delight of the crowds.

 

Ireland’s Barry McClements (756, S9) featured in the top three once again, touching in for second after his win in the 400m freestyle on Saturday.

 

European bronze medallist Niels Mortensen (745, S8) made it a podium double for Denmark in third. He then went onto to seal victory in the men’s 200m individual medley with 840 points, his second over two days.

 

Norway’s Adam Ismael Wenham (831, SM14) led Belgian rival Aymeric Parmentier (760, SM14) into second and third, respectively.

 

In the men’s 200m individual medley SM7, the other single class race of the finals, the USA’s Evan Austin touched in first. The 24-year-old swam a time of 2:46.36 to leave Copenhagen with two wins.

 

Germany’s Tobias Pollap (2:49.49) was second and his teammate Hannes Schuermann (2:51.41) was third.

 

More information about the World Para Swimming World Series, including full results, can be found at World Para Swimming's website.

 

Pictures are available for download from the Danish Paralympic Committee's Flickr.

 

The World Series takes in some of the biggest Para swimming competitions around the world ahead of the 2017 World Para Swimming Championships in Mexico City, from 29 September-6 October.

 

Next on the calendar is Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 21-23 April.

 

Sheffield, Great Britain; Indianapolis, USA; and Berlin, Germany, will also host events between April-July.