World Series: Daniel Dias defends men’s title

Daniel Dias successfully defended the men’s individual World Para Swimming World Series title, while Louise Fiddes ended top of the women’s standings following the circuit’s last event in Berlin, Germany.

The scores for the overall rankings are calculated by adding up the swimmers' two best point scores achieved in two different World Series events.

Brazil’s most decorated Paralympian achieved his two best scores in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy, and Sheffield, Great Britain to finish with a total of 4,111 points.

“It was a nice surprise to see that I won,” said Dias. “More countries participated at this year’s World Series. It was great to see this level of involvement, which made the battle for the title fiercer. I am extremely happy with this result.”

It was a Latin American podium as Colombian Rio 2016 champion Carlos Serrano finished second with 4,104 points and Chile’s Alberto Abarza third with 4,080.

The latter still celebrated as he defended the men’s S/SB 1-3 High Support Needs title. He was followed by Mexico’s world champion Diego Lopez (3,479) and USA’s Curtis Lovejoy (2,181).

Iceland’s Robert Isak Jonsson (3,637) took top spot among the juniors. US swimmer Lawrence Sapp (3,615) and Hong Kong’s Ka Chun Hui (3,571) collected silver and bronze respectively.

Teenage talent tops women’s standings

Great Britain’s Fiddes has confirmed she is one of the rising stars on the international scene by taking the women’s title with 4,041 points. The 17-year-old shone in Sheffield and Berlin.

“So proud; I cannot believe I won,” Fiddes said. “It is shocking. There are so many athletes that are better than me. I did not expect all this to happen so quickly. I expected to come top 10 but not to win.”

Canadian three-time Paralympic champion Aurelie Rivard (3,956) ended second and Netherlands’ Rio 2016 bronze medallist Chantalle Zijderveld (3,952) third.

Fiddes also won the junior title ahead of Zijderveld and Italy’s five-time world champion Carlotta Gilli (3,924).

Singapore’s only Paralympic gold medallist Yip Pin Xiu (3,669) won the women’s S/SB 1-3 High Support Needs title. Brazil’s Edenia Garcia (3,461) came in second and USA’s Leanne Smith (2,523) third.

Team success for Great Britain

The National Paralympic Committees' title was awarded to Great Britain (15,742). Netherlands (15,345) and Brazil (15,343) completed the podium.

Full rankings are available on World Para Swimming’s website.