Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Day 5 Finals: 5 More World Records Fall in Busy Session

2020 TOKYO SUMMER PARALYMPIC GAMES

• When: Pool swimming: Wednesday, August 25 – Friday, September 3, 2021
• Where: Olympic Aquatics Centre / Tokyo, Japan
• Heats: 9 AM / Finals: 5 PM (Local time)
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EXPLANATION OF PARA CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

• There are 14 classifications for Paralympic swimmers, typically denoted as “S” followed by a number.
• “SB” designates an athletes classification for breaststroke events
• “SM” is for individual medley events
• Athletes with physical impairments are classified in S1-S10, SB1-SB9, and SM1-SM10 with numbers 1-10 ranging from more severe activity limitations to less severe limitations.
• Athletes with visual impairments are classified in S/SB11-13.
• Athletes with intellectual impairments are classified in S/SB14.
• The Paralympics are not the “Para Olympics” or anything similar. The International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee are separate organizations with separate leadership and separate events that happen to have a partnership to organize their crowned jewels more efficiently.

With many races taking place during the day 5 finals session, another 5 World Records were broken in Tokyo, 3 of which fell at the hands of the previous WR holder. Getting things started was Israel’s Mark Malyar, who tore to a 4:31.06 in the men’s S7 400 free. The swim shattered the previous WR of 4:33.64, which Malyar held from 2019. Ukrain’es Andrii Trusov took Silver in 4:35.56, while American Austin Evan claimed Bronze in 4:38.95. Notably, Argentina’s Inaki Basiloff took 4th in 4:38.99, meaning the top 4 finishers all swam well under the previous Paralympic Record of 4:41.82, which Malyar set this morning in prelims.

Japan’s own Naohide Yamaguchi clocked a 1:03.77 to win the men’s SB14 100 breast, breaking his 3-month-old World Record of 1:04.00. Australia’s Jake Michel was in excellent form again tonight as well, swimming a 1:04.28 to lower the Oceanic Record again after he did so this morning. Coming in 3rd was Great Britain’s Scott Quin, who touched in 1:05.91.

Spain’s Michelle Alonso Morales broke her own WR as well, winning Gold in the women’s SB14 100 breast. She clocked a 1:12.02, clearing the field by well over 2 seconds, and bettering her previous WR mark of 1:12.61, which was set back in 2016. Louise Fiddes of Great Britain won Silver comfortably, touching in 1:15.93. Brazil’s Beatriz Borges Carneiro came in 3rd in 1:17.61, narrowly beating out her sister, Debora Borges Carneiro (1:17.63).

In the men’s SB4 100 breast, Russia’s Dmitrii Cherniaev clipped the World Record, touching first in 1:31.96. The previous record was from back in 2012, and was held by Brazil’s Daniel de Farias Dias at 1:32.27. Cherniaev won the race handily, with Colombia’s Moises Fuentes Garcia taking Silver in 1:35.86. Greece picked up a medal with Antonios Tsapatakis touching 3rd in 1:40.20.

The last World Record came in the women’s S11 50 free, and boy, was it eventful. To set up the context, we need to remind you that Cyprus’ Karolina Pelendritou broke the World Record in prelims on August 27th, swimming a 29.92. In finals, Pelendritou came in 3rd, but dropped time, swimming a 29.79. China’s pair instead went 1-2 shattering the days old World Record. Jia Ma won the race in 29.20, shattering the Asian Record, Parlaympic Record, and World Record. Guizhi Li took Silver in 29.72.

There were also several non-World-Record records broken at day 5 finals. In the men’s S2 200 free, Brazilian G.G. dos Santos Araujo won the event in 4:06.52, touching first by nearly 8 seconds. He also broke the South American and Americas Records with the swim. Chile’s Alberto Abarza won Silver, swimming 4:14.17, while Russia’s Vladimir Danilenko clocked a 4:15.95 to win the Bronze medal.

There were several more records in the women’s S13 50 free, as Brazil’s Maria Carolina Gomes Santiago once again broke the S12 Paralympic Record, winning Gold in 26.82. Finishing in 2nd was Russian Anna Krivshina, who also broke the S13 PR for the 2nd time today, swimming a 27.06. Krivshina won Silver by just 0.01 seconds, as S13 World Record holder Carlotta Gilli of Italy touched in 27.07. Australia’s Katja Dedekind lowered the Oceanic Record again as well, touching 4th in 27.14.

Belarus’ Ihar Boki broke the Paralympic Record in the men’s S13 50 free, after tying the previous record in prelims. Boki’s 23.21 was just 0.01 seconds off his own World Record, which was set back in 2015. Ukraine picked up Silver and Bronze in the event, with Illia Yaramenko and Maksym Versaka touching in 23.70 and 23.83 respectively.

Simone Barlaam (Italy) lowered the Paralympic Record in the S9 men’s 50 free, claiming Gold in 24.71. The swim was well off his World Record mark of 24.00, but Barlaam still managed to win the race by over a quarter of a second. Russia’s Denis Tarasov swam a 24.99 for Silver, while USA’s Jamal Hill clocked a 25.19 for Bronze, also breaking the Americas Record in the process.

Finishing up the session was the women’s 400 free relay. There weren’t any tight finishes in this relay, instead each place at least 2 seconds apart from the next. Italy won the race with their squad of Francesca Palazzo, Vittoria Bianco, Giulia Terzi, and Alessia Scortechini, who combined for a 4:24.85. Australia came in 2nd, with Ellie Cole, Isabella Vincent, Emily Beecroft, and Ashleigh McConnell posting a 4:26.82. Canada won Bronze, with Morgan Bird, Katarina Roxon, Sabrina Duchesne, and Aurelie Rivard clocking a 4:30.40. Both Great Britain and the USA were disqualified for early take-offs on the 2nd leg.

More Day 5 Medalists

• Hungary’s Fanny Illes won Gold in the women’s SB4 100 breaststroke, swimming a 1:44.41. Italy’s Giulia Ghiretti won Silver with a 1:50.36, while Cuan Yao (China) took Bronze with a 1:50.77.
• Italy’s Arjola Trimi won Gold in the women’s S3 50 back, clocking a 51.34. She won the race handily, with Great Britain’s Ellie Challis coming in 2nd with a 55.11. Russia’s Iuliia Shishova won Bronze with a 57.03.
• In the S3 men’s 50 back, China’s Liankang Zou won an incredibly tight race. Zou touched in 45.25, followed closely by Ukraine’s Denys Ostapchenko (45.57), and Mexico’s Diego Lopez Diaz (45.66).
• USA picked up a pair of medals in the women’s S7 400 free. McKenzie Coan touched in 5:05.84 to win Gold, while fellow American Julia Gaffney took Bronze with a 5:11.89. Italy’s Giulia Terzi won Silver with a 5:06.32.

DAY 5 MEDAL TABLE