#Brisbane2019: Trio of world records sees swimming end on a high
One of the busiest days on the schedule at the 2019 Global Games wrapped up with three world records in swimming in Brisbane, Australia, on Thursday (17 October).
Trio of world records sees swimming end on a high
By Katie Hopkins
The crowd turned out for the fifth and final day of events at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre where emotions ran high and records rained down.
Australia’s Liam Schluter once again impressed in the pool, setting a new world record in the men’s 1,500m freestyle II1 in a blistering time of 14:41.40. Compatriot Joshua Alford (17:13.17), claimed silver and Hong Kong’s Hon Yin Wong (17:32.25) rounded off the podium.
In the women’s equivalent Russia’s Valeriia Shabalina (17:32.74) finished her campaign on a high by also breaking the world record. Australia’s Jade Lucy (18:55.91) finished runner up with Hong Kong’s Sui Kei Cheong (19:36.68) closing out third place.
Shabalina went on to contribute to Russia’s Global Games record victory (4:54.57) in the women’s 4x100m medley II1. Fellow teammates Olga Poteshkina, Elizaveta Barbatina and Vlada Starovoitova stormed down the pool to finish ahead of nearest challengers Japan (4:57.40) and Australia (4:57.77).
South Korea (4:11.44) tasted victory in the men’s 4x100m medley II1 relay, clinching gold off Hong Kong (4:11:71) to set the third and final world record of the night. The bronze went to Japan in 4:12.87.
Further success came Hong Kong’s way in the women’s 200m butterfly II1. Yui Lam Chan clocked a new World Intellectual Impairment Sport record of 2:33.46 whilst compatriot Ho Ying Cheung touched the wall at 2:40.38. Japan’s Moemi Kinoshita (2:45.10) completed the top three.
Spain’s Michelle Alonso Morales (33.48) ended her Brisbane 2019 campaign with a Global Games record in the women’s 50m breaststroke II1. Morales continues to hold onto the record which she set in 2016.
Brazil’s Debora Carneiro claimed the silver medal, clocking a time of 36.38. Australian favourite Paige Leonhardt’s (37.12) performance proved enough to hold off compatriot Ashley Van Rijswijk to claim the last spot on the podium.
Australia took their own golden slice of the action courtesy of Gabriel Howells (44.86) in the women’s 50m breaststroke II3. The Faroe Islands’ Signa Joensen (45.44) was second and Australian Sarah Wallace (55.55).
In the men’s 50m breaststroke II2 Spain celebrated as Ortiz Hernandez (42.48) touched in first. France’s Raphael Dutay (43.08) was second. Australia’s Bradley Doolan (44.43) took bronze.
All world records are subject to ratification by World Para Swimming.
Record-breaking day on track at athletics
By Maddie Mainwaring
The penultimate day of action on the track and field saw stellar performances in a number of events.
In the women’s discus II1 both the gold and silver medallist threw over the Global Games and World Intellectual Impairment Sport world record marks.
France’s Gloria Agblemagnon, came first with an incredible 43.63m, followed by Ecuador’s shot-put Paralympian Poleth Mendes Sanchez (43.15m). China’s Yang Zhao came in third with 37.63m.
Agblemagnon’s compatriot Nawa Adama took home gold with a time of 13.17 in the women’s 100m II1. Thailand’s Sukanya Charswat (13.22) followed ahead of Brazil’s Jardenia da Silva.
France took home another gold when Quentin Foratier (9:57.24) came first in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase II1. Great Britain’s Sam Fernando followed in second with a personal best of 9:58.82, and Spain’s Manuel Gomez Lucas came in third with 10:36.50.
Brazil’s Samuel Dias Conceicau (14.13m) claimed victory in the men’s triple jump II1. Portugal’s Lenine Cunha (13.11m) added one more medal to his career haul with silver. Ecuador’s Roberto Carlos Chala Espinoza (12.91) completed the podium.
Japan won gold in men’s javelin II1 with Taichi Saito’s 55.71m effort. Poland’s Piotr Rydzkowski came in second with 49.23m, and Finland’s Jani Petteri Tissari was third with 44.29m.
In the women’s long jump II1 Russia’s Aleksandra Ruchkina took home another medal after coming first with 5.41m. Fellow Russian Irina Potekhina (5.21m) was second and Portugal’s Ana Filipe (5.07m) third.
Cycling trifecta for France
By Aleasha Bliss
The third and final day of road cycling proved to be a day of shock wins and excitement with the women’s 5km and men’s 10km individual time trials taking place at the Murrarie Recreation Centre.
The standout race for the day had France demonstrating their strong and powerful team by blocking out the podium in the men’s 10km individual time trial.
The French were overcome with emotion as they realised what had happened. There was crying, hugging, jumping and chanting as the group celebrated their incredible sweep.
Leo Collet smashed his ultimate goal of improving on his seventh place finish from the 2017 Cycling World Championships, taking the top prize in an impressive 13:42.74. His average race speed was 43.76km/h.
Worlds bronze medallist Jeremey Teixeira Periera (13:55.29) was awarded silver. Third place went to Jean Claude Thievent (14:12.36).
The trio said they were “very happy, proud and it was a dream to represent France.”
The women’s 5km individual time trial saw Great Britain’s Lauren Booth (7:18.17) claim an incredible third Global Games gold medal.
Teammate and defending champion Kiera Byland (7:30.26) received her second silver alongside Monday’s team time trial gold. The bronze went to Russian Irina Nikitina whose time was 7:51.54.
Gold medallist Lauren Booth said she was excited to participate in the event for the first time.
“I can’t believe I’ve won three gold medals,’ the British rider said.
Cyclists will now take a break before the exciting debut of track cycling at the Anna Meares Velodrome on Saturday (19 October).
Great Britain take tennis upperhand
By Aleasha Bliss
Great Britain enjoyed another gold at the Queensland Tennis Centre, topping the podium in the mixed doubles II1.
Great Britain’s top seeds Dominic Iannotti and Anna McBride took gold when they defeated Australia’s Mitchell James and Kelly Wren in straight sets 6-2 6-2.
Bronze was awarded to Australia’s Archie Graham and Carla Lenarduzzi. They defeated compatriots Joshua Holloway and Yasmin Sanders in a nail-biting match 6-2 2-6 [10-8].
Friday will see the gold medal matches for men’s and women’s single matches II1 and II2 and men’s and women’s doubles II1.
McBride will face Belgium’s Hanne Lavreyson in the women’s singles II1.
In the women’s doubles II1 Lenarduzzi and Wren will go for the title against Sanders and Kathryn Wilson.
Graham will team-up with James in the men’s doubles II1 final to take on Iannotti and Fabrice Higgins.
Later on Iannotti and Higgins will switch from teammates to opponents for gold in the men’s singles II1.
Finally an all-Australia clash for the title in the men’s singles II2 will see Timothy Gould and Timothy Walsh face-off for gold.
Semi-final face-offs set in basketball
Australia have a triple shot on gold in both the men’s and women’s competition.
In the women’s both their Green and Gold teams will play in Friday’s semi-finals.
Australia Gold, the reigning world champions, will play 2017 Worlds bronze medallists France for a place in the final.
Australia Green are the 2017 runners-up and will play an up-and-coming Japan side.
In the men’s the hosts’ table-topping performance was rewarded with a semi-final clash against world title-holders France.
Portugal, the European champions, will play Poland.
Futsal nears climax
By Makayla Bishop
The futsal final is also set after a day of gripping games in Brisbane.
The semi-final between reigning world champions Portugal and Poland was a fight to finish.
Portugal started off strong during the first half, scoring a total of five goals with only one in reply coming from their opponents.
So far Portugal have held their form, winning all their matches except for a tie with Saudi Arabia on day three in an 18-goal thriller.
During the second half Poland reduced the deficit by two. But it was not enough as the Portuguese added three more to bring the final score to 8-3.
Portugal will face Saudi Arabia for gold after they beat France 7-4.
England claim fourth Twenty20 victory
By Mitchell Kidd
With England declared the winners of the five-day international cricket series after their third win against Australia on Wednesday (16 October), both sides were playing for honours on Thursday.
Despite the overall result already decided, neither team were prepared to sit-back. A thrilling match ensued at the Allan Border Field.
England won the toss and elected to bat. They looked as though they were going to carry on at the same rate of scoring as they did yesterday.
Ronnie Jackson made a quickfire 32 before getting caught out by Haydn Brumm off the bowling of Jesse Goodman.
Today was Dan Bowser’s day again though as he fell just short of his century with 99 not out.
Brumm was the best of the Australian bowlers with 1/31 off his four overs as England amassed a total of 2/202 off their 20.
Australia’s run chase started poorly with Boyd Duffield getting bowled in the first ball of their innings by Tayler Young.
Brumm and Gavin Hicks made it to the halfway point of their innings but still needed 149 if Australia were to win from their last 10 overs.
From there both men decided to turn on the style which put huge pressure back on the English. That included 21 scored by the pair off the 15th over and an outrageous six hit by Hicks on to the roof of the Matthew Hayden Grandstand in the 17th over.
The match looked as though it was going down to the wire with three overs to go. Australia needed 40 to win with Hicks and Brumm in full flight. However, some great bowling by Chris Edwards in the 18th saw only six runs scored and began to turn the tide back in England’s favour.
Young then came back on in the 19th and took the wickets of both Brumm and Hicks which halted Australia’s momentum.
Australia finished their 20 overs 27 runs short of the target at 6/176.
