Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023.- Brazil came to Santiago 2023 to dominate Para swimming, and they are indeed doing so. On Wednesday, they celebrated with four new gold medals in the pool at the Centro de Deportes Acuáticos of the Estadio Nacional.

In the female's 50m freestyle S8 category (swimmers with slightly limited coordination, moderately limited leg movement, the use of a single arm, or the absence of limbs), the champion was Brazilian Cecilia Jerónimo, with a time of 31.35 seconds. The silver went to Colombian Sara Varas, with 33.29, who also set a new Pan American record in the S7 category. The bronze, meanwhile, went to McKenzie Coan with 33.39.

Next was the 50m freestyle S6 event (swimmers with moderately limited coordination on one side of the body, very limited coordination in the lower torso and legs, short stature, or the absence of limbs), with Brazilian Laila Suzigan as the champion, setting a new Pan American record of 35.30 seconds. The second place went to the American Megan Gioffreda with 35.40, while the bronze went to Brazil with Mayara do Amaral with 35.66.

The Brazilians wanted more and achieved it as in the male's 100m freestyle S12 category (swimmers with visual impairment), the fastest was Douglas Rocha, once again with a Pan American record of 56.45 seconds. The silver went to Colombian Daniel Giraldo (56.94), and the third place went to Brazilian Thomas Rocha (58.88).

Finally, Ana Soares closed Brazil's golden harvest in the female's 200m individual medley SM14 (intellectual disability), with a time of 2:37.35. The entire podium was Brazilian, as the silver went to Débora Borges (2:38.45), and the bronze to Beatriz Borges (2:38.52).

Written by Carlos Silva Rojas; translated by Rocio Rojas / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport
Photo by Javier Valdés / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport