2020 WPS World Para Series – Melbourne
- Friday, February 14th – Sunday, February 16th
- Ran alongside
- Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre (MSAC)
- 50m (LCM)
Nineteen-year-old Timothy Hodge nabbed three of Australia’s 16 gold medals at the opening stop of the 2020 World Para Swimming World Series in Melbourne last weekend.
To open the meet, 19-year-old Hodge – an S9 – won the multi-class 100 fly in 1:01.77. On night two, he took gold in the 100 back, going 1:03.74. To close the meet, he went 30.08 for first place in the 50 fly.
“I feel like the times I do now have a little bit of an influence on the times I’ll do later this year, but for now the ultimate goal is just to get the race plans right and to get the techniques and see what little bits need improvement – it’s really important to get these things right heading into Tokyo,” Hodge said after the meet.
Anastasia Pagonis and Evan Austin were the only American swimmers to pick up a gold medal – and the former nabbed two. The 14-year-old Pagonis, who lost her vision in 2018, marked her World Series debut with a win in the 400 free at 5:18.12. She then won the 200 IM Sunday with a 2:54.23. Pagonis also finished fifth in the 100 free and fourth in the 50 free.
Austin, a 27-year-old S7, won the 50 fly in 30.79 Sunday night. Saturday, he took silver in the 100 breast at 1:24.44. Austin also finished fourth in the 400 free.
New Zealand Paralympian Sophie Pascoe was also a double winner in Melbourne. The decorated 27-year-old went 36.05 to win the 50 breast and 32.30 to win the 50 back.
