Kiwis No. 1 medals per capita at IPC World Championships

The New Zealand Para-Swimming team have shown themselves as a force to be reckoned with at next years’ Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

The team of eight has been in stunning form across the 7-day IPC Swimming World Championships, wrapping up the event ranked 1^st in the world by capita for medals won, securing five Rio 2016 slots for the nation and bringing home a total of 16 medals.

Mary Fisher and Sophie Pascoe were the biggest contributors to the medal haul with a total of 11 medals between them including a staggering six gold, three silver and two bronze. While team mate Nikita Howarth won the further two gold medals. Rebecca Dubber and Cameron Leslie swam great personal best times to win a total of three silver medals.

Jon Shaw (Head Performance Coach, Para-Swimming) said, "This has been an outstanding meet for the New Zealand Para-Swimming team.” He continued, “The IPC Swimming World Championships is our most important qualifying event leading into next years’ Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. We set ourselves the ambitious target of securing five slots and we have achieved this due to the enormous efforts of all Para-Swimmers and support team here and back in New Zealand, I could not be more proud. With just over one year to go until Rio 2016 we are in a great position and we will move forward with plenty of momentum.”

Malcolm Humm (High Performance Director, Paralympics New Zealand) said, “This has been a tremendous week for New Zealand at the IPC Swimming World Championships. Alongside securing five slots for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, we set ourselves the ambitious target of 15 medals; to test our systems and structures as preparation for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and provide new emerging talent athletes with the opportunity to gain high quality international experience as preparation for the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. We have accomplished all these goals which bodes well for the future.”

On the final day of competition Mary Fisher once again led the way on the final day winning silver in the Women’s S11 50m Freestyle (31.78). Fisher took the option to race this event once again following a deemed interference during the event on Day 5. This was a great decision as Fisher bettered her original time and moved up to win the silver medal.

Rebecca Dubber placed 6^th in the Women's S7 50m Freestyle in a time of 36.95. This was another personal best for Dubber at this meet and her second time ever under 37 seconds.

The final race of the Championships was the exciting and competitive Women’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay 34 points. The New Zealand team of Rebecca Dubber, Nikita Howarth, Sophie Pascoe and Georgia Gray went into this event ranked 8^th and finished 7^th in a time of 5:09.48.

Hamish Mclean (Men’s S6 100m Freestyle) was in action in the morning heats placing 7^th in a time of 1:17.91. He was joined by fellow Kiwi Jesse Reynolds (Men’s SM9 200m Individual Medley) placing 4^th in a time of 2:27.90.

Nikita Howarth was also in action (Women’s S7 50m Freestyle) placing 4^th in her heat in 38.74. Although the three Para-Swimmers did not qualify for their respective finals Hamish Mclean swam a personal best time.

Day 7 Results: