World Intellectual Impairment Sport celebrates record number of new athletes

World Intellectual Impairment Sport celebrates record number of new athletes in 2017

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The International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) is celebrating a record-breaking year in 2017, with a historic high of more than 5,000 athletes registered to compete across all of its 14 sports.

Almost 600 new athletes were approved for international competition during the year, more than double the figure reached in previous years.

Eligibility to compete is determined on strict evidence provided by the relevant World Intellectual Impairment Sport Member organisation and assessed by experts on a dedicated panel. For the Paralympic sports of swimming, table tennis and athletics, it means athletes can progress to classification by the relevant International Federation. For other sports, once an athlete is approved, they can compete at World Intellectual Impairment Sport competitions.

The figures join a series of other successes in the last 12 months. These include a reach of more than 500,000 people on social media, 230,000+ website visitors and a number of new member organisations

World Intellectual Impairment Sport President Marc Truffaut, himself elected in 2017, said: “The record increases in the number of athletes who joined World Intellectual Impairment Sport last year and the impressive digital figures show that World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ mission is reaching more people than ever before.

“We manage a wide variety of summer and winter sports, the majority of which are outside the Paralympic programme. It is a joy to see so much new potential joining us across the board, even in lower profile sports. We look forward to adding even more depth to the field of athletes. Of course, these figures represent those athletes who registered for international competition – many more got involved at a national level across our Membership.

“We also welcomed our three newest Members, Bahrain, Morocco and the World Taekwondo Federation, our first International Federation Member. This has expanded our reach further and we are fielding enquiries from organisations all over the world who are interested in joining us.”

Promoting and supporting the world’s best athletes

In addition to increases in athlete numbers, Members and its digital following, World Intellectual Impairment Sport made huge progress in a series of other areas.

These included the launch of a new website, a rebranded international day celebrating the achievements of athletes and changes to governance to create clearer lines of management and accountability.

The introduction of two trial groups – II2 (for athletes with a more significant intellectual impairment) and II3 (for athletes with high-functioning autism) also made World Intellectual Impairment Sport a more inclusive sports organisation. These trials will continue into 2018, with II2 provisionally confirmed for the 2019 Global Games in Brisbane, Australia.

A research project into the effects of adaptive behaviour on sports performance – one of the measures of intellectual impairment – also concluded. This was supported by the Agitos Foundation, the development arm of the International Paralympic Committee.

Finally debut international competitions were held for equestrian, hockey and judo with help from partner organisations such as the European Hockey Federation and German Paralympic Committee.

A further 11 World Championships or international events were held in athletics (track and field, half marathon and cross-country), cycling, skiing, futsal, swimming, basketball, tennis, table tennis and cricket. Swimming and table tennis were livestreamed for the first time.

“It is clear that our vision that athletes with intellectual impairments across the world have the opportunity to achieve excellence in sport has taken a huge step forward,” Truffaut continued.

“I and my colleagues on the Governing Board will continue to work tirelessly to ensure we capitalise on our successes in 2018. We have another busy year with the launch of a project to encourage more female athletes and leaders, an eligibility conference, new regions and sports council gatherings and various Championships taking place.

“I would like to thank everyone, especially the volunteers, who make it all possible. We are in a strong position for the coming years, which will no doubt deliver even greater opportunities for para-sport and athletes.”

France to host three major Championships in 2018

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The International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) has announced that France will host Championships in indoor athletics, road cycling and tennis in 2018.

First up is the 2018 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Indoor Athletics Championships from 2-4 March in Val De Reuil. The competition is expected to attract 100 athletes from 15 countries and will be held at the Jesse Owens Stadium. It follows on from the last edition in Ancona, Italy, in 2016.

It will feature athletes with an intellectual impairment (II1) as well two trial groups: II2 – for athletes with a more significant intellectual impairment, and II3 – for athletes with high-functioning autism. These were also introduced in swimming and table tennis in 2017.

World Championships in road cycling and tennis will then take place during the first World Intellectual Impairment Sport European Games in Paris. The multi-sport event is an World Intellectual Impairment Sport Europe competition taking place between 14-22 July. However cycling and tennis is open to countries from outside of the continent.

All three Championships will be organised locally by the Fédération Française du Sport Adapté (FFSA).

Around 30 cyclists from five countries will compete at the Polygone – bois de Vincennes. Forty tennis players from seven nations will go for titles at the Cercle Athlétique de Montrouge. Exact dates for each Championships will be confirmed shortly.

World Championships in both sports are held every year. In 2017 Assen, the Netherlands, hosted road cyclists from around the world. Bolton, Great Britain, staged the 2017 tennis Worlds.

Marc Truffaut, World Intellectual Impairment Sport President, said: “France have hosted World Intellectual Impairment Sport Championships in the past and have always put on a good show. I have no doubt that these three competitions will meet and exceed the standards set in the past.

“This is a great opportunity for the media and public to experience sport for athletes with an intellectual impairment across the country. That is especially true for the European Games being held in Paris – the host city of the 2024 Paralympic Games.

“As President of World Intellectual Impairment Sport and a French citizen I am extremely proud to welcome some of the world’s best athletes to France in 2018.”

Zakopane will host the 2018 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Alpine and Nordic Skiing Championships

World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Alpine and Nordic Skiing Championships heading to ‘winter capital of Poland’

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The International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) has announced that the 2018 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Alpine and Nordic Skiing Championships will be held in Zakopane, Poland, from 27 February – 2 March.

Around 60 athletes from 10 countries are expected to compete at the Suche ski resort and on the trails of the CentralnyOsrodekSportuZakopane.

Known as the ‘winter capital of Poland’, Zakopane is located in the southernmost region of the country, near the border with Slovakia. It is the second time the city has hosted the Championships, following on from 2016.

Alpine skiing will feature slalom, giant slalom and super-G. Nordic skiers will compete in the cross-country sprint, short and long distance races as well as a 3×2.5km relay.

Zakopane 2018 is being organised by the ZSS Sprawni-Razem, the Polish Union of Sport Associations for People with Intellectual Impairments. Technical support will be provided by the Polish Skiing Federation.

Marc Truffaut, World Intellectual Impairment Sport President, said: “World Intellectual Impairment Sport is excited to work with the ZSS Sprawni-Razem once again on the biggest competition on the alpine and Nordic skiing calendar for athletes with intellectual impairments. Winter sports fans will get to enjoy the world’s best skiers competing in one of Europe’s best destinations.

“With the thrills and spills of alpine and the speed and endurance of cross-country, we expect a very entertaining Championships indeed.”

“We are pleased that for the second time we can host in Poland the best skiers with intellectual impairments,” said Dariusz Mosakowski, ZSS Sprawni-Razem President.

“On the organisational side, we will do our best to provide athletes with the excellent competitive conditions, and fans with a great sport spectacle.

“We also hope that the organisation of the World Championships in Zakopane will contribute to the popularisation in Poland of sport for people with intellectual impairments”.

The 2018 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Alpine and Nordic Skiing Championships will feature athletes with an intellectual impairment (II1) as well two new trial groups: II2 – for athletes with a more significant intellectual impairment and II3 – for athletes with high-functioning autism. For more information, visit www.inas.org.

The Championships open on 27 February with the slalom and short distance races.

A blind footballer weaves between two people

Tokyo 2020 launches medal design competition

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By Tokyo 2020

The competition to design the official medals for Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games is now open to Japanese nationals and residents of Japan over 18 years of age.

The competition is aimed at those with design experience – young and old, design students and professionals. Applicants will be asked to submit their personal profiles and examples of previous design work for evaluation by 19 January 2018.

Entry criteria

Applicants must:

  • have previously created 3D art work in their academic or professional careers
  • be 18 years or above on 1 April 2017
  • reside in Japan during the selection period (between January and August 2018)
  • communicate in Japanese. It will be necessary to liaise with the production company at various stages during the mock-up production process

Competition guidelines are available for download from the Tokyo 2020 website (available in Japanese only).

Those judged to meet the necessary criteria will be invited to submit designs for the Olympic medal (rear side) and for the Paralympic medal design (front and rear sides). Designers must submit their proposals for all three designs as a set.

A Tokyo 2020 selection panel (to be confirmed) comprising members of the Tokyo 2020 Brand Advisory Board, former athletes and professional designers will review all entries. They will select a shortlist of designs by April 2018. The designers of these and a manufacturing institution will create three-dimensional mock-ups of the shortlisted designs. The winning design set will be selected in August 2018. The new medals will be unveiled in 2019.

The Olympic and Paralympic medals are something very special for all athletes. London 2012 Olympics boxing gold medallist and current WBA middleweight champion Ryota Murata commented, “The medals need to last for ever. A simple design that you never tire of is better. The Tokyo 1964 and Nagano 1998 medals were impressive in that they had a Japanese feel to them.”

In 2017 Tokyo 2020 commenced the nationwide collection of discarded and obsolete electronic devices for the metal they contain, in the production of medals. It is the first time such an innovative, environmentally-friendly approach has been adopted by an Organising Committee.

A cross-country runner celebrates winning gold

Candelier bags double gold at cross-country Worlds

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Marion Candelier put on an impressive show for hosts France at the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Cross-Country Championships in Epernay on 8 and 10 December, sweeping the board in women’s events.

In the short distance on Friday Candelier was dominant despite freezing temperatures, crossing the line in 7:53.15. The Czech Republic’s silver medallist Katerina Husakova (8:22.44) could not match the Frenchwoman over 2km. South Africa’s Bonang Modise (8:28.86) was third.

Making the most of the 24 hour break, Candelier then tackled the long distance 5km course on Sunday.

Improving on her silver medal from 2014 she finished in 21:53. Smangele Tembe (25:21) claimed another medal for South Africa in second. Husakova (26:23) stepped onto the podium again in third.

Portugal’s Cristiano Pereira also doubled-up in the men’s, taking his first gold on the 4km course on Friday.

Pereira (12:31.09) was in the sights of France’s Rashid Boutasghount (13:02.80) but just nudged the host’s favourite into second.

Defending champion Daniel Pek (13:17.96) was pushed into third for Poland.

France took some consolation by winning the team event, courtesy of a combined performance from Boutasghount, Renaud Brelik and Quentin Foratier.

Pereira, Jose Azevedo and Paulo Benevente joined forces to seal silver for Portugal. The South African trio of Fathuwani Mushiana, Kamogelo Moncho and Reggie Segobaetso completed the podium.

The same result in the short distance was then repeated on the 8km course.

Pereira (30:12) impressed once again to finish ahead of Boutasghount (30:28) in second. Pek (32:06) rounded-off the podium but lost his world title.

The men’s team gold went to France, followed by Portugal and South Africa.

About World Intellectual Impairment Sport

World Intellectual Impairment Sport represents more than 300,000 athletes with intellectual impairments around the world. We give elite athletes the chance to compete at an international level and on the Paralympic stage. But we cannot continue our work towards the inclusion of the people with intellectual impairments in society without your support.

We are a registered charity and your help can make a big difference. Find out more.

A line of female runners with an intellectual impairment begin a cross-country race

Pek headlines field for World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Cross-Country Champs

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Poland’s returning double champion Daniel Pek headlines the field for the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Cross-Country Championships which get underway in Epernay, France, on Friday (8 December).

Pek, a double Paralympian and European champion in track and field, will try to defend his two titles from 2014 in the short and long distance races. He picked up double gold at the last World Championships in Ostrzeszów, Poland.

His main challengers are expected to be Portuguese teammates Cristiano Pereira and Jose Azevedo.

Pereira and Azevedo will be hoping for podium finishes having missed out at the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport European Half Marathon Championships in September. Pereira is the 2014 cross-country long distance silver medallist. Azevedo took second in the short distance three years ago.

In the women’s hosts France have a strong medal chance. Marion Candelier claimed silver in the long distance in 2014.

In the absence of Poland’s defending champion Barbara Niewiedzial, Candelier will look to claim gold for her country.

The men’s and women’s short distance event will take place on Friday. The men and women will race over 4km and 3km, respectively.

The long distance will be contested on Sunday (10 December) with the men tackling a 8km course and the women 6km.

About World Intellectual Impairment Sport

World Intellectual Impairment Sport represents more than 300,000 athletes with intellectual impairments around the world. We give elite athletes the chance to compete at an international level and on the Paralympic stage. But we cannot continue our work towards the inclusion of the people with intellectual impairments in society without your support.

We are a registered charity and your help can make a big difference. Find out more. 

Swimmers in the pool at the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships

Japan close 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships with triple gold

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Japan closed the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships in Aguascalientes, Mexico, in style on Sunday (4 December), with three gold medals.

Taiga Hayashida, Yasuhiro Tanaka, Haruki Takayanagi and Shunya Murakami (4:28.93) won the men’s 4x100m medley relay with ease.

Brazil’s Kaio Adriano Olivier Branco, Luis Henrique Sieiro, Gustavo De Oliveira Nunes and Andre Luiz Bento Silva (4:36.15) took silver. Nathan Maillet, Jacky Deforge, Mathis Daniel, Maxime Dutter (4:45.74) clinched bronze for France.

The women’s 4x100m medley relay was won by Mai Deguchi, Remi Watanbe, Chinami Harada and Haruna Ogawa (5:21.25). Australia grabbed another relay medal with silver courtesy of Jaime-Lee Getson, Bronte Marshall, Nikesha Sophia Harding and Casey Stevens (5:25.68).

Brazil’s Ana Karolina Soares Oliveira, Kelly Da Silva Antunes, Debora Borges Carneiro and Stephanie Ariodante (5:47.98) competed the top three with bronze.

Yasuhiro Tanaka (1:10.38) led an all-Japanese podium in the men’s 100m breaststroke. Teammates Taiga Hayashida (1:11.42) and Shinichi Hirota (1:14.05) took silver and bronze, respectively.

In the women’s 100m breaststroke there was gold for Brazil with Carneiro (1:22.56) claiming her latest win. Australia’s Jaime-Lee Getson (1:28.20) just edged Japan’s bronze medallist Mai Deguchi (1:28.22) by a fingernail to take silver.

Ana Karolina Soares Oliveira also leaves Aguascalientes as the most decorated athlete from the women’s S14. The Brazilian claimed four individual gold medals across five days of competition.

The combined performance of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games hosts saw them top the medals table in the S14 category with 15 golds, eight silver and five bronze. They also led the overall medals table, S14 and trial eligibility groups combined, with 25 golds, 10 silver and eight bronze medals.

Hosts Mexico finished second in the overall table with 18 golds, 14 silver and 16 bronze, including one gold, two silver and two bronze in the S14.

Australia were third with 10 titles, 13 silvers and four bronze featuring nine wins in the S14.

In the remaining events contested on day five, Spain’s Luis Francisco Parede (2:23.94) triumphed in the men’s 200m butterfly S14.

There was a Japanese double on the rest of the podium with Haruki Takayanagi (2:25.77) taking silver and Yuki Yamanaka (2:26.01) the bronze.

Australia’s Nikesha Sophia Harding (2:42.86), the silver medallist from 2015, took victory in the women’s 200m butterfly S14. The 18-year-old beat Chinese Taipei’s defending champion Jo-Lin Tu (2:50.73) who claimed second place. The USA’s Leslie Cichocki (3:02.01) completed the top three.

Maillet tied with Japan’s Shunya Murakami and Brazil’s Felipe Caltran Vila Real for the most decorated men’s S14 swimmers with two golds each.

Trial significant additional impairment groups

In the men’s 100m breaststroke – Down syndrome Caique Aimore (1:29.82) secured his seventh gold medal of the competition. His victory makes him the most decorated athlete from the trial eligibility group.

Colombia’s Jose Miguel Ramirez (1:35.13) sealed silver. Carlos Hernandez (1:36.56) doubled Spain’s medal haul for the evening with bronze.

Spain’s Dunia Camacho Marenco tied with Spain’s Camino Martinez De La Riva for the most decorated swimmer in the women’s – Down syndrome with three titles each.

Full results are available here.

The 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships ran from 28 November – 3 December.

Behind the scenes content, videos and pictures are available at World Intellectual Impairment Sport Facebook and Twitter and a newly launch Instagram account (@inas_sports)

Two eligibility groups were trialled in Aguascalientes -1. Athletes with significant additional impairment – for athletes with an intellectual impairment and a further significant impairment. Initially this will be restricted to athletes with Down syndrome. 2. For athletes with autism.

Australia and Brazil women's relay team

Lucy grabs third gold at 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships

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Australia’s Jade Lucy collected her third individual gold medal at the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships in Aguascalientes, Mexico, on Sunday (3 December).

The victory came in the women’s 1,500m freestyle S14 where Lucy breezed into first in 19:45.29. It was the 19-year-old’s final race of the Championships where she has made a real splash with under two years to go until Australia host the 2019 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games in Brisbane.

Mexico’s Beatriz Resendiz De Garcia (20:24.64) secured silver. Her teammate Nora Elisa Garcia Sanchez (24:20.74) completed the top three.

Japan’s Kenichiro Matsuda (18:49.95) won gold in the men’s 1,500m freestyle S14. Macau’s Yu Chia Chen (19:32.44) was second, and the USA’s Jonathan Pierce (19:42.95) was third.

Japan have further medal hopes in two of tonight’s finals.

Shota Zayasu (2:24.84) led the field in the heats of the men’s 200m butterfly S14 ahead of Spain’s Luis Francisco Paredes (2:26.50) in second. Zayasu’s teammate Haruki Takayanagi (2:26.74) completed the top three.

Taiga Hayashida (1:11.96) went quickest in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB14, leading a trio of his teammates. Yasuhiro Tanaka (1:13.13) and Shinichi Hirota (1:14.97)  were second and third respectively.

Nikesha Sophia Harding (2:46.75) will go for gold for Australia in the final of the women’s 200m butterfly S14 as the quickest from the heats. Chinese Taipei’s defending champion Jo-Lin Tu (3:01.99) was second ahead of Mexico’s Mariana Diaz De La Vega (3:14.62).

Brazil’s Ana Karolina Sores also went through, aiming to cement her position as the Championships most decorated S14 swimmer.

In the women’s 100m breaststroke SB14 Debora Borges Carneiro (1:22.96) placed herself in pole position to win another medal for Brazil. Japan’s Mai Deguchi (1:29.16) was second. Australia’s Jaime-Lee Getson (1:29.88) was third.

Youth

Mexico’s Alejandro Alvarado Alvarado (19:46.05) was the victor in the men’s 1,500m freestyle.

Alavarado’s teammate Nahum Hernandez Certina (2:43.29) won the title in the men’s 200m butterfly.

Trial significant additional impairment groups

Great Britain’s Billy Birchmore (23.41.84) claimed his latest gold in the men’s 1,500m freestyle – Down syndrome. Birchmore expertly led Mexico’s Jonathan Trejo Garcia (24:09.83) into second place. Another Mexican, Giovanni Flores Hernandez (25:26.51), claimed bronze.

In the women’s event Dunia Camacho Marenco (24:48.11) dominated to take the win. The USA’s Katya Vazhenin (30:58.61) sealed silver.

France’s Axel Belig impressed in the men’s 200m butterfly – Down syndrome. Touching in at 3:07.74 he topped the podium ahead of the USA’s Andy Miyares (3:27.31) with silver. Garcia (3:37.36) grabbed his second medal of the morning with bronze.

France doubled up on golds in the women’s equivalent as Cleo Renou (4:07.02) touched in first. Mexico’s Cindy Lorena Alacantara (4:23.21) was silver. Russia’s Anastacia Petrova (4:25.20) rounded-off the top three.

South Africa’s Melisa Van Bosch (1:50.10) secured gold in the women’s 100m breaststroke – Down syndrome. Brazil’s Kelly Da Silva Antunes (1:52.59) was second. Estonia’s Maria Rein (1:57.38) took bronze.

Caique Aimore (1:37.96) will go for gold for Brazil once again in the men’s 100m breaststroke – Down syndrome final. Spain’s Carlos Hernandez Ortiz (1:38.24) was second quickest. Colombia’s Jose Miguel Ramirez (1:38.92) was third.

Mexico secured another title in the men’s 1,500m freestyle – autism courtesy of Marco Antonio Martinez (21:47.83).

Anna Beem claimed the women’s 100m breaststroke – autism gold in 3:07.26.

Full results are available here.

The 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships run until 3 December.

Live coverage, behind the scenes content, videos and pictures are available at World Intellectual Impairment Sport Facebook and Twitter.

Two eligibility groups are being trialled in Aguascalientes -1. Athletes with significant additional impairment – for athletes with an intellectual impairment and a further significant impairment. Initially this will be restricted to athletes with Down syndrome. 2. For athletes with autism

A table tennis player with an intellectual impairment

World Intellectual Impairment Sport goes digital to celebrate International Day of Sport for Athletes with an Intellectual Impairment

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World Intellectual Impairment Sport has launched a new-look website and Instagram account, to celebrate the International Day of Sport for Athletes with an Intellectual Impairment on 3 December.

The world’s leading high performance sports organisation for this impairment group is publishing a series of videos across social media of athletes talking about how sport has impacted their lives. The day also coincides with the Unites Nations’ International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The powerful messages include US tennis world champion Brittany Tagliareni:

“Tennis has made me a better person both physically and mentally. I am more coordinated than I have ever been before in my life and I am more confident. This confidence helps me make new friends. I love playing tennis because it challenges me to be the best that I can be, every day.”

South Africa footballer Chadley Jacobs used the opportunity to offer some words of wisdom:

“I want to encourage those today: hard work pays off and what you put in is what you are going to get out at the end of the day. Never doubt yourself and never let anyone tell you that you can never make it.”

Speaking in his own video message, World Intellectual Impairment Sport President, Marc Truffaut, said:

“I have been struck by the amount of athletes who have said that sport has helped them with their communication skills and confidence, and in many cases to find employment and make new friends.”

“The response to our call has been fantastic. It’s really great to be able to show everyone the impact sport has on athletes with intellectual impairments from all over the world.

“I would like to wish all our athletes and members a very happy and successful International Day of Sport for Athletes with an Intellectual Impairment.”

All videos can be viewed at World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ Youtube channel.

The re-designed World Intellectual Impairment Sport website (www.inas.org) features a fresher, simpler look. A new layout will also make it easier for sports fans and the media to find key information about competitions and athletes. World Intellectual Impairment Sport members can still find the same content under a new ‘countries’ tab.

New and updated content and features will be added on a regular basis as World Intellectual Impairment Sport makes its mission as a leading high performance sports organisation clearer to all its stakeholders. Alongside this, a new Instagram account (@inas_sports) will sit alongside Facebook and Twitter as the organisation expands its social media presence.

“Our website and social media are the most important tools we have to showcase athletes and our work,” Truffaut continued. “We are determined to maximise their potential, whilst being as transparent, engaging and informative as we can be.”

Anyone wishing to support the world’s best athletes can visit the support us pages of the World Intellectual Impairment Sport website.

Japanese relay team make incredible comeback

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Japan claimed the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay gold in dramatic fashion at the 2017 International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Swimming Championships on Saturday (2 December).

The Tokyo 2020 hosts were out of the medals until the closing stages, trailing Spain and Brazil. But a lightning penultimate leg and anchor leg from Haruki Takayanagi and Shunya Murakami pulled them back up the rankings, enough to claim the gold in 8:52.75.

Yasuhiro Tanaka and Yuki Yamanaka completed the Japanese line-up.

France’s Nathan Maillet, Mathis Daniel, Maxime Dutter and Jacky Deforge (9:07.73) claimed the silver. Spain secured bronze courtesy of Luis Francisco Paredes, Javier Labrador Fernandez, Alejandro Meneses Madero and Adrian Manuel Santana (9:19.45).

In the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay Australia were the victors courtesy of Bronte Marshall, Casey Stevens, India Biesse-Fitton and Jade Lucy (11:01.40). Brazil’s Debora Borges Carneiro, Stephanie Ariodante, Ana Karolina Soares, Oliveira and Kelly Da Silva Antunes (11:09.26) secured the silver.

In the women’s 100m freestyle S14 Oliveira (1:04.41) claimed her third gold in two days.

The Brazilian 17-year-old impressed by finishing nearly one second faster than the USA’s silver medallist Leslie Cichoki (1:05.45). Australia’s Jade Lucy (1:06.90) claimed bronze.

France’s Nathan Maillet (56.51) converted his leading heat swim from this morning into gold in the men’s 100m freestyle S14. The Brazilian duo of Andre Luis Bento Silva (59.39) and Gutemberg De Souza (59.63) collected silver and bronze respectively.

In the men’s 50m breaststroke Yaushiro Tanaka (33.20) was the victor. His teammate Shinichi Hirota (33.73) clinched the silver just a few tenths behind. The Czech Republic’s Vladimir Hlavec (34.32) was third.

In the women’s 50m breaststroke Carneiro (37.59), another teenager talent at 19, claimed the win. Australia’s Jaime-Lee Getson (39.14) secured silver as she did in 2015. Austria’s Janina Falk (41.39) secured the bronze – at the age of 14.

The men’s 100m butterfly S14 title was claimed by Gustavo De Oliveira Nunes (1:03.74). Japan’s Takayanagi (1:04.92) led teammate Murakami (1:05.57) into second.

Australia’s Nikesha Sophia Harding (1:15.32) dominated in the women’s 100m butterfly, winning in 1:15.32.

Cichoki (1:16.36) picked up another medal with silver. Chinese Taipei’s Jo-Lin Tu (1:16.90) also enjoyed her latest podium appearance with bronze.

Trial significant additional impairment groups

In the men’s 100m freestyle – Down syndrome Brazil’s Caique Aimore (1:06.68) once again topped the podium.  Colombia’s Jaider Stiwen Hernandez (1:08.28) secured silver. Great Britain’s Billy Birchmore (1:11.00) rounded off the podium.

Aimore doubled up with the win in the men’s 50m breaststroke – Down syndrome. Spain’s Carlos Hernandez Ortiz (43.39) was second. Mexico’s Jesus Salvador Montoya (47.83) completed the top three.

In the women’s 50m breaststroke – Down syndrome Kelly Da Silva Antunes (50.40) sealed another gold for Brazil. South Africa’s Melisa Van Bosch (51.42) grabbed the silver and Estonia’s Maria Rein (52.49) the bronze.

The women’s 100m freestyle – Down syndrome saw Dunia Camacho Marenco (1:21.35) claim the title. Spain’s Camino Martinez De La Riva (1:23.28) and Mexico’s Paola Veloz Barcenas (1:29.70) won silver and bronze respectively.

A close race highlighted the men’s 100m butterfly – Down syndrome. France’s Axel Belig (1:17.23) went head-to-head with Mexico’s Jesus Garcia Gonzalez (1:17.67). Belig emerged the victor as Gonzalez settled for silver. Mexico’s Steven Martinez Arellano (1:25.00) took the bronze.

The women’s was won by France’s Cleo Renou (1:44.35). Mexico’s Daniela Michelle De Lorea (1:51.66). Colombia’s Yeimy Carolina Cortes Murci (1:55.17).

Full results are available at www.inas.org/events/results/results-2017-inas-swimming-championships

The 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships run until 3 December.

Live coverage, behind the scenes content, videos and pictures are available at World Intellectual Impairment Sport Facebook and Twitter.

Trial eligibility groups are being run in Down syndrome and autism.

Two eligibility groups are being trialled in Aguascalientes -1. Athletes with significant additional impairment – for athletes with an intellectual impairment and a further significant impairment. Initially this will be restricted to athletes with Down syndrome. 2. For athletes with autism.