2019 World Para Swimming World Series – Berlin
- June 6-9, 2019
- Berlin, Germany
- Results
The seventh and final stop of the 2019 World Para Swimming World Series took place in Berlin last weekend, wrapping up the season with some fireworks.
Veteran Ihar Boki, of Belarus, took down the first major record of the weekend, going 1:50.34 in the 200 free, a new S13 world record. Behind Boki was S14 Reece Dunn, who also set a new world record, going 1:53.57. In the multiclass race it was S4 swimmer Ami Omer Dadaon who took gold however, going 2:57.42.
In the women’s 100 breast, silver medalist Brock Whiston broke the SB8 world record. In prelims, she went 1:15.36, then improved even more in finals, going 1:14.5.
To kick off day two, the United States’ Robert Griswold became the first S8 swimmer in history to crack 30 seconds in the 50 back. He set the new world record at 29.97.
Dunn, who only began his para-swimming career in December, set his second world record of the meet in the 100 free on Friday, going 51.52.
“It’s brilliant really,” he said in the IPC press release. “I’m not very rested and yet I’m faster than what I did at the British championships about a month ago, so I’m very pleased with how the results have turned out.”
Saturday, Britain’s Tai became the first S8 swimmer to go under 29 seconds in the 50 free, hitting a world record in 28.97.
“I’m in shock; I feel like I’m going to cry but I can’t stop smiling,” Tai said. “I’m absolutely exhausted but what the heck.”
After setting the 100 breast world record earlier in the meet, Brock Whiston set another in the 50 on day three, going 34.12. SB1 Aliaksei Talai, a quadruple amputee, set a world record in prelims of the event, then lowered it in finals, going 1:27.48.
On the final day, shortly after finishing fifth in the 200 IM, Tai rebounded for a world record in the 50 fly, touching in 30.62. Elena Krawzow set the S12 world record in the same race, going 29.49.
Sixteen-year-old Bavarian Josia Topf set a new S3 world record in the men’s race (54.01), the first of his young career.
Robert Griswold is a STUD. Amazing athlete – better person – CONGRATS ROBERT!!!!
wow quadruple amputee now that is a race I would like see the video. I may have to go find it. I think many of these other world records are just created by the (mis)classification system. They have ruined the competition aspect of this sport for the near future. Everyone who wants to be a WR holder can just cheat a little on the test and then the next competition they set a record. I’m not impressed and I really think Swimswam and other reporters should top using the term “world record” when reporting the results.
Whether or not the classification is correct is one thing, and I certainly have my own gripes about it, but it’s not disputable that XYZ is the fastest person to hold their classification in their “world record” event, which is why it is reported as such.
I understand that technically you are correct. However it is obvious they have moved the bar for the class system so its basically totally new. World record means “best ever” or “best swim of all-time” but right now its really just the “best swim this year” or “best swim under the new system”. The swims are not comparable at all as to what was done even a couple years ago. Pascoe and Tai are prime examples…previously in higher classes but with no change in their disability they have been moved lower and now crush the competition.
Hi Torrey Is there any update on Andre Brasils appeal? If this was the last opportunity for classification, it looks like he’ll miss Worlds.
Where do the Brits find these swimmers? Whiston & Dunn new to Para Swimming yet both set WRs from the get go? Whiston has a long swimming history at National level (not Para). Maybe the mistake is classifying in a multi class race environment? When Worlds come around Whiston, Tai & Pascoe are going to be half a pool length in front of their competition, that’s just daft to watch – it’s exhibition swimming, not racing.
Not so sure about Pascoe. Watch Patterson pull huge PBs out of nowhere now she is a 9 to challenge Pascoe. Also the 400 free- Patterson first, daylight second.
Ah true. I had forgotten about her, S7 now S9 Pascoe has been very outspoken about classification and her competitors in the past. This match up could prove interesting.
Anyone know anything about Reece Dunn? Breaks 2 WR right off the bat, new to Para Swimming. Seems a little old to have “discovered” an Intellectual Disability. Obviously been swimming at a high level somewhere.
Like Whiston, been around or a long time swimming fast times, newly classified for Para and setting WRs.
https://www.swimmingresults.org/individualbest/personal_best.php?back=individualbestname&mode=A&name=Dunn&tiref=300914
So, I might be mistaken but by the looks of those times, he’s about to break every s14 WR short and long course??? Anyone know the history of his Classification? Why hasn’t he previously swum Para, would have been competitive for quite some time.
Must be very similar to the new Australian S14 male that has been selected for Worlds. The information that I have heard is that he originally swam able bodied, missed out on selection for the Australian Juniors team a few years back and suddenly developed an intellectual disability. What makes this even more interesting is he attends a private college or school. Doing times that will beat all current S14 Australian men. There is also a female swimmer of the same class new to the scene in Australia classified as an S14 who achieved a score for university/college of 95/100.
The list for IM is growing tremendously and there are 2 countries at the top of the list in… Read more »
It’s just disgraceful, why on earth you you pretend to have an Intellectual Disability? And how are they getting past classification if they don’t have the educational assessments to back up the IQ claims! What’s the IQ level, under 70? Pretty sure your not getting 95/100 on college entrance exams on an IQ 70 or lower.
Exactly right!!! Investigations need to be undertaken in country of the National classifiers who are doing the classifying of these athletes. Whoever the national classifier was that originally classed Patterson as an NE got it right, wonder where they are now?
There is a world of difference between being NE and being a 7. And yet still they will say “nothing to see here”. And yes, very conflicting stories about her family background and the onset of her disability and even the diagnosis.
IPC has set it at 75 not 70 for some bizarre reason. They’ll be excluded again somewhere down the line. And yes, why are these people pretending to be disabled, or more disabled, how are they getting through the testing and why isn’t anyone doing anything about it?
Easy answer to that – never!
I don’t understand how you can discover an intellectual disability in your late teens or early 20s. Whether they use 70 or 75, that will have been picked up in school and most would be receiving assistance at the very least, or be in special ed units. How on earth are they faking educational records to back up their IQ claims? Or is no one checking? Just fail an IQ test and your in!!!
Find the comment under Chris and it will explain his circumstance.
I know about Reece Dunn and I know full well he has not just ‘pretended’ to have an intellectual disability so before you jump on the band wagon of he’s pretending I suggest you learn the facts pal!
People on the internet have no clue and just talk rubbish don’t they haha
Actually if you ever met him you’d realise that he does in fact have an Intellectual Disability. His former coach told him not to take the tests so he never did. Thankfully a new coach came in and he’s taken the tests just like everybody else has to and he qualified as an S14. So you need to check the facts before you start falsely accusing people of faking tests.
Actually if you ever met him you’d realise that he does in fact have an Intellectual Disability. His former coach told him not to take the tests so he never did. Thankfully a new coach came in and he’s taken the tests just like everybody else has to and he qualified as an S14. So you need to check the facts before you start falsely accusing people of faking tests.
The Brits get these swimmers by having them reclassified from S10 to A8 ,Alice Tai and S9 to S8 Brock Whinston. Everyone who watch the races see what is going on. Same thing that happened in Rio with the Australians.