Swimming great stamps Para Pan Pacs as a Hallmark moment

HIGH heat, high humidity and high expectations.

Still dripping from his efforts in the 400m freestyle final on Day 2 of the Para Pan Pacific Championships in Walnut, California, Australia’s most experienced Dolphin Brenden Hall (pictured) – a five-time Paralympian, world record holder and eyewitness to the transformation of para sport – gave the Australian Class of 2026 an A+.

The three-day meet at Mt San Antonio College is a fact-finding reconnaissance mission for the Dolphins ahead of LA 2028 and tonight’s 11-medal haul – 4 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze – on the second night of finals revealed:

• Decorated Dolphin Lakeisha ‘Lucky’ Patterson arrived in-form and on fire for her speciality 400m freestyle event. After battling a series of seizures, Patterson has returned stronger than ever and has been posting times quicker than her victory at last year’s World Championships. Tonight, Patterson clocked 900m – winning gold in the 400m free (heats + finals) and as a member of the mixed 34pt 4x100m free team.
• Wily 33-year-old Hall – a world record holder and multiple Paralympic medallist in the 400m free – raced smart and fast to secure bronze in the 400m free behind Harrison Vig (gold) and Callum Simpson (silver) to make it a clean sweep for the Dolphins. The next 12-18 months will determine if the physiotherapist will aim for a sixth Paralympics.
• Australia’s long-term focus on relay medals is paying off with tonight’s combinations claiming two gold: 34pt mixed 4x100m free relay Team A, and S14 mixed 4x100m free relay Team A; and two silver (34pt mixed 4x100m free relay Team B, S14 mixed 4x100m free relay Team B).

Hall said: “This has become a very tight-knit team. I have been fortunate to witness all the relationships develop and grow and then on this team we have a fresh intake of six rookies starting out with still two years to go to LA.”

“So it’s exciting. And it’ not just the athletes. The professionalism of the team environment has grown so much over the past 16 years – the support network, the performance support like massage, bio mechanists, dieticians etc.

“Our goal is to become the number one swimming country in para sport by 2032 and this nucleus of swimmers, over the next two years, will pave the way to Brisbane.

“We have to make sure over that we knuckle down, fine tune our processes and keep evolving. Dekkers (Declan Budd) made his debut in Singapore last year and it’s exciting to see him go from strength to strength.

“To see Kirralee (Hayes) coming back after retiring at the age of 18 and having a great Commonwealth Games and campaign here  – I can’t wait to see what she is capable of, and Beau Matthews – fresh off his first senior meet in Glasgow showing his potential again here.

“This has been such an important meet in terms of heat management and all athletes have shown adaptability and ability.”

Heats: 9.30am Local time / 2.30am next day AEST
Finals: 5.30pm local time / 10.30am next day AEST

FINAL DAY: Day 3 Race Previews:

> All eyes will be on world-record holder Ben Hance as he dives in for the the men’s 100m backstroke. The Sunshine Coast S14 swimmer is a two-time Paralympic champion in the event, with tomorrow’s hit-out marking an important stop on his path towards a third consecutive title at LA 2028.

> It’s a star-studded line-up of Dolphins in the men’s 100m butterfly, with Paralympic medallists Col Pearse and Alex Saffy – fresh from going one-two in Glasgow – lining up alongside decorated Dolphins Hall and Tim Hodge. In the women’s field, S10 Australian record holder Jasmine Greenwood and three-time Paralympian Emily Beecroft are set to lead the charge for Australia, with 2026 Dolphins debutants Jasmin Fullgrabe, Montana Atkinson and Kael Thompson also in the mix.

> The S10 boys are back in town. In an encore to opening night’s 100m freestyle battle that saw Marion’s Rowan Crothers take gold just ahead of St Peters Western’s Tom Gallagher, tomorrow’s 50m freestyle shapes up to be another fast and fierce battle between the Dolphin pair.