There was another emotional final in the women’s 100m freestyle S9 on Friday (29). “I thought Worlds was best time that I could do this year and to be honest, if that was my best time of the year, I would have been happy but a personal best and a world record, Commonwealth Games champion and world champion all in the same year … stoked.'Įngland’s Hannah Russel took the silver medal (27.67) and Dedekind’s teammate Kirralee Hayes, the bronze (28.24). The victory came only 44 days after her world title at Madeira 2022. 'Is it? Oh wow, that’s icing on the cake, my first long-course world record and to do it at the Commonwealth Games where it’s the first vision impaired competition for Para athletes to be invited is pretty exciting,' the 20-year-old said. Her mark was 0.11 faster than the previous record from Italy’s Carlota Gilli in 2018. Katja Dedekind won the women’s 50m freestyle S13 in 26.56 on Saturday (30). The Australian Dolphins were also responsible for the first world record* set at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre. The Aussie set a new Games record in 1:01.88 leaving New Zealand’s Jesse Reynolds in second (1:03.65) and Northern Ireland’s Barry McClements in third (1:05.09). It was Hodge’s second medal in Birmingham as he had already triumphed in the men’s 100m backstroke S9 in the first day of competition on Friday (29). Third place also went to Australia with Blake Cochrane (1:18.97). Youngest athlete on New Zealand’s swimming team at Birmingham 2022, 17-year-old Joshua Willmer picked the other gold medal up for grabs on Sunday beating Australia’s Timothy Hodge by 0.07 in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB8 final. Lily Rice took the bronze medal for Wales (1:23.06).Ĭlick here and change your settings to allow “I saw the New Zealand girl when I came off the turn and I was like, ‘Whoa, not in front of a home crowd.’ I swum for my life pretty much,” Tai added, referring to Tokyo 2020 champion Tupou Neiufu who finished second (1:17.91).

For where I am in training, I’ve not trained enough so I’m not as fit as I should be. First of all, I just felt I was gonna cry. I’ve been learning to walk this year and then getting back in the pool was a just a bit of fun - I missed swimming.”Īsked what went through her mind when she saw she had won, Tai said: I had to pull out of Tokyo and had an amputation in January. I’m trying hard not to cry,” the 23-year-old said.

It was Tai’s first major gold in three years as an elbow injury prevented her from competing at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, and she started this year with a surgery to amputate her foot. The Para swimming competition at Birmingham 2022 got off to a great start with the first world record of this year’s Commonwealth Games, an emotional farewell and a stunning win from a crowd’s favourite.Īlice Tai brought the house down at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre on the third night of finals on Sunday (31 July) with her victory in the women’s 100m backstroke S8 final (1:13.64).

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