The Australian Dolphins have finished their Pan Pacific Para Swimming Championships campaign victorious, winning a total of 43 gold, 30 silver and 21 bronze to top the medal tally.
In a fierce competition against Para-swimming powerhouses USA, Canada, Japan as well as four strong swimming nations - Brazil, New Zealand, Singapore and Costa Rica, the Dolphins’ skills shone through, proving they’ll be the ones with targets on their back at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, just a little over two years away.
London 2012 Paralympian Taylor Corry impressed displaying career-best form and finishing her events with four gold medals from four events. Swimming 1:08.77 in the 100m butterfly S14 final, Corry lead from the start and finished nearly five seconds ahead of Canada’s Justine Morrier.
“I’m so happy with my swim (tonight) but I’m even happier with the meet in general,” Corry said.
“I missed out on Rio by half a second, I missed out on World Champs last year by two seconds and I’m just so glad to be part of the Australian team again.”
“I didn’t take much notice of how far ahead I was in that race because for me, it’s just about what I can do for this family. My swimming family. “
The evergreen Matt Levy, who after four Paralympic Games still has more to give. Claiming gold in the 50m freestyle S7, Levy touched the wall in a time of 28.94. The win turned into an Australian quinella, with Sydneysider Rohan Bright claiming silver in a time of 30.71 ahead of Brazil’s Talisson Glock.
“It was great to finish the meet off with a decent swim tonight. It’s been a great atmosphere here, it’s great to be in Cairns and it’s been great to get so many PBs during these last five days,” he said.
In other results on the final night, 13-year-old Jasmine Greenwood swam 28.87 in the S10 final to become the first bronzed Aussie of the night.
The clear champions of the Pan Pacific Para Swimming Championships, Australia were unrelenting until the end, with the women’s 4 x 100m freestyle 34-point relay team grabbing the last gold medal of the meet. The team consisting of Paige Leonhardt, Ellie Cole, Lakeisha Patterson and Tiffany Thomas Kane took the lead from the start but were pushed by Team USA right until the end when Thomas Kane widened the small gap in her final strokes to touch the wall first.
Adapted from Swimming Australia's Para Pan Pacs wrap up article: https://www.swimming.org.au/NewsCentral/Cairns-Dolphins-Gold-Rush-Sees-Australia-On-Top-O.aspx
We are incredibly proud of our NSW athletes' spectacular performances in Cairns! Here's what they brought home:
Jasmine Greenwood (Bay & Basin) - 2 x Bronze,
Tiffany Thomas Kane (Lane Cove) - 2 x Gold, 1 x Silver
Rohan Bright (Barker Aquatic) 3 x Silver, 1 x Bronze, including achieving his first international medal
Tim Hodge (Auburn) - 4 x Gold, 1 x Silver
Matt Levy (North Sydney) - 5 x Gold, 1 Silver
Taylor Corry (Trinity Lismore) - 4 x Gold, back on the scene after a hiatus with a point to prove!
Congratulations everyone!
