World Series 2025: Mexico gears up for final splash ahead of Singapore 2025

The Para swimming spotlight returns to the Americas this week as the Para Swimming World Series 2025 makes its seventh stop in Guadalajara, Mexico.

From Thursday to Sunday (12 to 15 June), the Centro Acuático Metropolitano will host 283 Para swimmers from 27 countries over four days of multi-class events, bringing together a mix of seasoned champions and emerging talents.

The host nation, Mexico, will be represented by the largest delegation in the competition, with 186 athletes registered.

Experience alongside youth

Among the big names competing this week is Arnulfo Castorena (SB2), one of Mexico’s most decorated Paralympians. At 47, Castorena remains a symbol of resilience and excellence, having competed at seven Paralympic Games in which he won four gold medals including the Paris 2024 title. 

In Guadalajara, he will be in action line up at a single event - the men's 50m breaststroke, where he will look to add another chapter to his illustrious career.

Veteran swimmer Nely Miranda Herrera (S4) also brings decades of experience to the pool. The 53-year-old Paralympic champion, who won two gold medals in Beijing 2008, will compete in the women's 100m and 200m freestyle events.

Mush like the current pool of talented athletes, the future of Mexican Para swimming is equally promising. Angel de Jesus Camacho Ramirez (S4/SM4), 20, is rapidly becoming one of the country's key names in the sport. 

After securing a bronze in the men's 100m freestyle S4 and a silver in the 50m backstroke S4 at Paris 2024, Camacho Ramirez returns to the World Series circuit with five events on his schedule: the 50m, 100m, and 200m freestyle, along with the 50m backstroke and 150m individual medley.

Another story drawing attention is that of the Gutierrez Bermudez brothers — identical triplets making their mark in the pool. Jesus Alberto and Raul will compete in Guadalajara, with Jesus having made his Paralympic debut in Paris last year, where he claimed bronze in the men’s 400m freestyle S6. He became the first of the trio to win a Paralympic medal, raising expectations for their future as a family of elite swimmers.

🔜 After a one-month break, the Para Swimming World Series 2025 is back to the spotlight.

✈️ 🇲🇽 Guadalajara, Mexico is the next stop!#ParaSwimming #WorldSeries2025 #Mexico2025 pic.twitter.com/b8MDfEXvq9

— Para Swimming (@Para_swimming) June 6, 2025

Welcoming champions

While the host nation's athletes will enjoy strong home support, international stars are also poised to make an impact. Colombian swimmer Nelson Crispin Corzo (S6/SB6), Paralympic champion in Tokyo2020 and three-time silver medallist in Paris 2024, will take part in three events: men's 50m freestyle, 50m butterfly, and 100m breaststroke. 

The United States will be represented by Jamal Hill (S9), who earned bronze in the 50m freestyle at Tokyo 2020. Hill will compete in three events in Guadalajara: the 50m and 100m freestyle, and 100m breaststroke.

The star-studded line-up also include Canada’s Shelby Newkirk (S6), who captured her first Paralympic medal with a bronze in the women's 100m backstroke at Paris 2024. Newkirk will swim the 100m and 400m freestyle events this week.

Fans from around the world will be able to follow the competition live on the YouTube channel of the Mexican Paralympic Committee, offering a front-row seat to the performances of some of the world’s most inspiring athletes.

Milestone Unlocked: Singapore to Host 2025 World Para Swimming Championships! 🌏🎉

Get ready for a splash of inclusivity and athletic excellence! Singapore is officially the first Asian nation to host the prestigious World Para Swimming Championships in 2025!

— Para Swimming (@Para_swimming) February 5, 2024

Singapore in the corner

Guadalajara marks the penultimate leg of the Para Swimming World Series 2025, following earlier stops in Melbourne, Australia; Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; Fuji-Shizuoka, Japan; Indianapolis, USA; and Paris, France.

Mexico 2025 is the last Para swimming competition before the Toyota World Para Swimming Championships – Singapore 2025, scheduled for September 21–27, making this event as a crucial final opportunity for athletes to fine-tune their performances on the road to the sport’s biggest stage.