Singapore has become the epicenter of world-class para-swimming, with the Toyota World Para Swimming Championships 2025 kicking off with a flurry of record-breaking performances and the emergence of new talent. In a thrilling start to the competition, multiple world records tumbled on the first two days, setting a high bar for the rest of the meet.
Day one saw Germany’s Tanja Scholz break her own world record in the women’s 50m breaststroke SB2 final, while Brazil’s Alessandra Oliveira dos Santos shattered an 11-year-old record in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB4.
Meanwhile, Great Britain’s William Ellard led the way in the S14 classification for swimmers with an intellectual impairment. He stormed to victory in the men’s 200m freestyle, setting a new world record of 1:51.08.
The momentum continued on Day 2, with Australia’s Ben Hance breaking his own world record in the men’s 100m backstroke S14, clocking an incredible 55.99 in the heats.
While records were being broken, a new generation of stars was also making their mark. Sixteen-year-old Poppy Maskill of Great Britain clinched her first-ever individual world title in the women’s 200m freestyle S14, and 17-year-old David Kratochvil of Czechia stunned a field of Paralympic champions to win the men’s 50m freestyle S11, a testament to the rising talent pool in the sport.
The championships, the first of their kind in Asia, have not only showcased athletic excellence but also Singapore’s growing reputation as a global sports hub.
