The 2019 World Para Swimming Championships concluded on Sunday, 15 September and saw a promising showing from the Australian Para Dolphins, who finished the Meet with two gold, seven silver and 14 bronze medals.
One of Australia’s shining lights was Ben Popham (Arena Swim Club, c: Simon Redmond), who produced the Dolphins’ first piece of silverware after powering his way home in the Men’s 100m Freestyle S8 final to snare the silver medal. In his debut outing at World Championships level and with his family proudly sitting in the stands watching on, Popham smashed his personal best to clock 57.89 in the final. Elated with his result, the 19-year-old said the podium finish and a personal best time was still sinking in.
“I feel incredible, I found out what I could improve on in the heats and I nailed exactly that, I went out a little bit harder but came home just as strong – I’m stoked, absolutely stoked,” Popham said.
Thursday night saw Popham return to the pool for his second race, the Men’s 400m Freestyle S8. Popham fought hard in a fierce race that was dominated by those in lanes three and four, coming in at fifth place with a new personal best time of 4:40.14.
The following night Popham snared his second medal at the event, sneaking in for bronze in the Men’s 50m Freestyle S8. Intending to post a time in the 26s, Popham achieved his goal and set a new personal best of 26.94 to take the final place on the podium.
On the last night, Popham competed in the Dolphins’ Men’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay with his teammates Matt Levy, Tim Disken and Rowan Crothers. Levy led the team off the blocks and held strong, with Popham and Disken digging deep in the middle stages to give Crothers the best chance to nab a piece of silverware. The Australian’s were narrowly beaten out by Ukraine for Silver, touching in 3:49.79 to claim bronze, with Ukraine placing second in 3:48.83, while Italy took gold in 3:46.83.
Echoing his teammates’ emotion, Popham’s smile could be seen from the grandstands.
With raw emotion, Popham said “Finishing off racing with the boys, you just can’t beat it – there was so much energy in marshalling and it was just a once in a lifetime experience. This Meet has already been really special for me and this is no exception”
Another Western Australian was in the action throughout the Championships fighting valiantly for his Club, State and Country. Jeremy McClure (South Shore Swim Club, c: Chris Twomey), swam extremely strongly in his pet event the Men’s 100m Backstroke S11.
In the heat McClure touched home in a new Oceanic Record qualifying him for the final. In the final McClure was just outside his best time but still stormed home to touch in seventh behind a loaded heat of rising stars.
McClure also competed in the Men’s 100m Freestyle S11, where he swam strongly to finish in 1:08.16, once again breaking the Oceanic Record. An incredible effort by the 32-year-old swimmer from Bull Creek.
McClure wrapped up another successful Championship by teaming up with Jenna Jones, Katja Dedekind and Braedan Jason as they raced in the Mixed 4x100m Freestyle coming in at sixth place with a time of 4:04.89.
As a four-time Paralympian, McClure is aiming to qualify for a historic fifth Paralympics next year and based on his form at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, he looks in good stead to achieve the incredible feat.
Both Popham and McClure will now return to their home programmes, to get some much-deserved rest before they get ready to start their #roadtotokyo.
