British trio repeat world podium clean sweep

Another scintillating session at the OCBC Aquatic Centre saw the British team add a further seven medals to their tally on day two of the Singapore 2025 World Para Swimming Championships programme.

It was towards the close of the night that another historic Women’s S14 100m Backstroke clean sweep was produced by the British trio of Poppy Maskill, Bethany Firth and Georgia Sheffield – just as they did at the Manchester 2023 edition.

Returning to global competition following the birth of her daughter, Firth put down a storming first length to lead into the turn, but in the only difference to two years ago, Maskill - who won gold at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games – had just enough firepower coming back to edge ahead as the pair went under the flags to stop the clock in a new Championship record time of 1:05.09.

Bouncing back from narrowly missing out on a medal the previous night, Sheffield secured her bronze in a clear third spot to complete an all-British podium.

Continuing her golden start to the championships, Alice Tai paced herself perfectly to victory in the Women’s S8 100m Backstroke.

A busy week of racing lies ahead, and the reigning Paralympic champion was delighted to win her third career world title in the 100m Backstroke event:

“I think that’s the second fastest time I’ve done this season which I’m really happy with. I’m trying to manage my week because I’ve got racing everyday so I’m super happy and excited to be on the podium hearing the national anthem again.

“I’m excited for all my events coming up, we’ve not swam a [34pts] Great British relay for such a long time so that will be exciting to be a part of alongside my individual events.”

Meanwhile Faye Rogers world championships campaign got underway on Monday in the Women’s SM10 200m Individual Medley – setting a new British record time of 2:28.52 to seal her silver medal.

Having agonisingly missed out on a Paralympic medal just over 12 months ago - placing fourth in Paris - Rogers set out strongly in this race in her favoured butterfly swim stroke and in the penultimate breaststroke leg moved into the lead to go head-to-head against Defne Kurt (TUR) down the final straight.

Though touched out by her Turkish rival by 0.22 seconds, a British record and silver medal represented an incredibly positive start to the meet for Rogers.

“I got a bit excited in the first 100m, went out a little bit quick, possibly could have been a bit more controlled going out to have a little more coming back, but we live and learn,” she said.

“It was a good swim, I’m happy with it being a PB and I was super excited with getting a silver - at the last world champs I won a bronze so that’s an improvement.”

There was a second trip to the podium in as many days for Ellie Challis, who delivered a season’s best in her final of the Women’s SM3 150m Individual Medley. The battle for world bronze – a repeat of her result from Manchester 2023 – came down to the final length, with Challis sprinting past Zoia Shchurova (NPA) on the closing freestyle to earn another medal in Singapore.

“I’m really happy! Yesterday wasn’t the best time but I was pleased with the result, and then today is better than I could have asked for,” said Challis.

“I’m excited to see how the week goes on for the team, I’ve just got my favourite event left on Wednesday [the Women’s S3 50m Backstroke] which I’m really looking forward too.”

Will Ellard and Mark Tompsett resumed their battle for medals in the Men’s S14 100m Backstroke, and in an incredibly close encounter it was Ellard who marginally got the better of his teammate to claim bronze in Singapore. Both men’s next individual race is the S14 100m Butterfly on Saturday, the final day of the championships.

Elsewhere following her stunning debut silver medal on day one Ela Letton-Jones stepped out to take lane two in the Women’s S12 100m Butterfly. The Nofio Gwynedd swimmer put in a solid swim to place fifth overall on the world stage.

Live and extended results of the Singapore 2025 World Para Swimming Championships can be found at www.paralympic.org/swimming/live-results, with live streaming of sessions on the Paralympics YouTube Channel.