SOPHIE PASCOE has won another World Championship Title, this time in the Women’s 100m S9 Backstroke and came within a whisker of adding her name to another World Record.
The 26-year-old set a new Commonwealth Record during the heat in a time of 1:08.56 stopping the clock even faster in the final in 1:07.49, just outside the current World Record of 1:07.41.
Today’s title is the 10th World Title for the Christchurch Para swimmer.
Two races later and competing in her first ever World Championship final, TUPOU NEIUFI powered home to claim the Silver Medal in the Women’s 100m Backstroke S8 in a time of 1:16.37. “I feel great, it was a little slower than this morning (in the heat) but otherwise I feel good in the water.“
“I definitely felt nervous, but I just kept telling myself, trust the process and everything, I’ve done all the work, I’ve done all the hard yards and all I need to do is show everyone how it is.“
Neiufi who usually focuses solely on the 100m Backstroke will have two more chances to show her class later in the week in the 50m Freestyle and the 200m Individual Medley. “It’s a really good feeling knowing that I can get some times through and try and work on that.“
JESSE REYNOLDS constant hard work has finally paid dividends, swimming under one minute 05 for the first time in his career during the 100m Backstroke S9 final, touching the wall in 1:04.96 seconds and lowering the personal best he set in the heat earlier in the day.
“Yeah, I can’t complain with a PB in the heat and then a PB in the final,“ Reynolds said post-race. “It was my first time under 1:05, so I’m really happy with the time, my placing isn’t quite where I want it to be and there’s definitely more in it for me, but hey, we I’ll come back again next year and have a look.“
Christchurch’s CELYN EDWARDS, the flag bearer at the Championships’ Opening Ceremony also produced a Personal Best, wiping one and a half seconds off his previous best, finishing sixth in the Men’s 100m Backstroke S8 in a time of 1:12.94.
Find out here how to watch the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships and read this article to know more about the New Zealand Para Swimming Team.
Full wrap for DAY 1 available here.
