World Series Australia 2025: Hodge, Betar and Osborn dazzle in season opener

The Para Swimming World Series 2025 officially kicked-off this weekend in Melbourne, Australia with the hosts wrapping up with a rich haul of medals – clinching almost all gold medals up for grabs.

Led by names that triumphed in Paris 2024 Paralympic Games last summer, the Dolphins collected 53 out of 67 medals at stake, winning in 21 out of 23 events.

Home stars 

Two-time Paralympic champion Timothy Hodge (S9/SB8) emerged winner in the men’s 100m butterfly and 50m backstroke events in addition to three silver medals in the 50m butterfly, 50m breaststroke, and 100m backstroke, besides a bronze in the 100m freestyle. 

Bronze medallist in the last Games, Ricky Betar (S14/SB14) was the other male swimmer to triumph twice in Melbourne alongside Hodge as the former triumphed in the men’s 100m freestyle and 200m medley events

Among the female athletes, Chloe Osborn (S7) stood on the top of the podium several times grabbing three gold medals in the women’s 50m, 100m and 400m freestyle events.

Osborn’s incredible show was matched by fellow swimmers Madeleine McTernan, Stephanie Bruzzese and Jasmine Fullgrabe who shone with two gold medals each.

McTernan (S14) triumphed in the 200m freestyle and 100m backstroke and grabbed a bronze medal in the 100m freestyle; Bruzzese (SB14/SM14) was the champion in the 100m breaststroke and 200m medley; and Fullgrabe (S9) won in the 50m butterfly and backstroke events.

Paralympic champions Benjamin Hance (S14), Brenden Hall (S9), and Emily Beecroft (S9) also had a golden performance at home winning the men’s 400m freestyle, men’s 100m backstroke, and women’s 100m butterfly finals, respectively.

🇦🇺 Dolphins wrap up gold medals on the first day of the Australia 2025 Para Swimming World Series. pic.twitter.com/OsghqjLGKJ

— Para Swimming (@Para_swimming) February 14, 2025

Two gold for visitors

Only two podiums had visitors on the top. The first one was in the men’s 50m breaststroke, that was won by New Zealand’s Joshua Wilmer (SB8) while Austrian Andreas Ernhofer (SM4) triumphed in the men’s 150m medley,

Among the visitors, seven-time Paralympic champion Yip Pin Xiu from Singapore visited the podium twice, grabbing a silver in the women’s 50m backstroke and a bronze medal in the 200m freestyle event. 

🛬🇦🇺 The Australia 2025 Para Swimming World Series is the first of nine meets scheduled for this year and gathers 72 athletes from eight different nations for multi-class events between Friday and Sunday (14-16 February). pic.twitter.com/cgwbWFLlUJ

— Para Swimming (@Para_swimming) February 13, 2025

Start to the season

Australia 2025 was the first of nine Para Swimming World Series 2025 scheduled for this year.

Now, the series travels to Europe as the next two stops will take place in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy between 13 and 16 March and Barcelona, Spain a week later from 20 to 23 March.

The full calendar of the Para Swimming World Series 2025 is available here.