Day 4 Finals Wrap World Para Champs

AUSTRALIA, you just wait.

A lightning quick Lex Leary (pictured) nabbed the gold but missed the world record mark she desperately wanted as the Dolphins ended Day 4 of the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore with two gold.

Leary went all out in the final individual race of the night and was peerless in the women’s 100m freestyle S9.

Her time of 59.19 was almost three seconds ahead of the field and just outside of the championship record (58.95) she set in this morning’s heat. It also fell just short of her own world mark of 58.89.

“Of course I am a bit disappointed, I was so close to the record in the morning but I’m really proud that I got it (the gold). That is the biggest that I wanted,” said Leary.

“I’ve still got more left in the tank and now I’m even more determined to beat my 50m world record later this week, just you wait.”

Leary set a world-best time of 27.23s in the 50m free at Sydney Open in May that broke USA’s Christie Raleigh Crossley previous mark of 27.25 set during the heats in Paris. Crossley and Leary will face off in the women’s 50m freestyle S9 on Day 7.

Fellow Dolphin Emily Beecroft backed up from her 100m fly bronze medal yesterday to finish fourth (1:03.97). Lakeisha ‘Lucky’ Patterson took advantage of the 100m hit out ahead of her chance to defend her world championship title in the 400m freestyle S9 tomorrow. Patterson placed seventh overall (1:04.59).

With a mighty roar, Callum Simpson opened up the golden night with a thrilling win in the men’s 100m freestyle S8. Simpson hit the wall in an Oceania record time of 57.15 and held off Italy’s Alberto Amodeo (57.88) and Eduard Horodianyn from Ukraine (58.14).

Simpson’s maiden title comes after he set an Oceania record and won bronze in the 400m freestyle S8 on Day 1. For the 18-year-old from the Sunshine Coast, who is now a Paralympic and world champion, the show is not over yet with two more events – the 50m freestyle and 200 IM – still to come.

“I was definitely not expecting to go that fast and break the Oceania record, or for the race to be that quick,” Simpson said.

“It feels amazing to hold onto my title from last year. Plus, to put in a race like that against such good competitors and see my hard work pay off, it means the world.”