U.S. Swimmers Shine At World Series Stops In Northern Italy And Spain

Katie Kubiak has lit up each meet she’s entered since breaking onto the Para swimming scene lower than a yr and a half in the past. 

 

She gained an astounding 4 gold and 7 complete medals at her world championships debut in Singapore final fall, and in March she returned to the worldwide circuit on the Para Swimming World Series cease in Barcelona. Leading the way in which for Team USA, Kubiak gained three of her races and completed second in one other, setting two American data within the course of. 

 

“It was a very exciting collection of events, and to have the American record in the 50-meter backstroke was honestly a great touch on top of all of it,” Kubiak, a 28-year-old from Cedarburg, Wisconsin, mentioned after her final race. “It was such a fun meet with all of my amazing teammates and getting to cheer them on.” 

 

Kubiak, who swims within the S5 classification, took gold within the 50-meter freestyle with a time of 35.47, the 50-meter backstroke with an American document time of 42.71, and the 50-meter butterfly with one other American document time of 38.96. She additionally took second within the 100-meter freestyle with an American document. 

 

The Para Swimming World Series offers elite Para swimmers the chance to compete in opposition to each other all throughout the world every year, and the U.S. despatched a contingent of 12 athletes to compete at meets in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy, and Barcelona throughout two weekends in March. 

 

Kicking issues off, Paralympian Noah Jaffe joined nationwide group newcomer Nat Vorel on the Barcelona meet held March 19-22.Vorel, an S10 swimmer, who took silver within the 50-meter freestyle with a time of 29.00. Jaffe had a handful of top-seven finishes, together with fifth place and American document within the 100-meter freestyle S8 with a time of 58.09. 

 

Vorel then continued on to Barcelona, the place she met 9 extra new teammates and had a fifth-place end within the 50-meter freestyle. Vorel was a university swimmer previous to an harm sustained whereas mountain climbing, and in recent times has grow to be one of many high Para climbers on the earth. She returned to the pool after her classification in Para climbing was left off this system for the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles.  

 

“I’m looking forward to going fast,” Vorel instructed U.S. Paralympics Swimming simply weeks prior to creating her worldwide debut. “It’s my favorite thing in the world when I can push and feel that speed. And I’m also just stoked to meet everyone.” 

 

Paralympian Lawrence Sapp, within the S14 classification, took the silver medal within the 100-meter butterfly with a time of 58.60, saying afterward that he believes he can nonetheless go quicker. 

 

He later posted on social media, “Fun weekend in Barcelona!!! First start of long course season in March. Glad I raced all my friends from other countries. I haven’t started training long course yet, but I’m giving everything I have. My results were OK, but not what I wanted. I’ll do better when long course training season starts. I’m looking forward to the next one. Next up, USA nationals 🔜!! Sliver medal 100m Fly🥈”