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Brazilian twins aim to make a splash at swimming Champs

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Two swimmers

©Alexandre Urch/MPIX/CPB

Brazilian twins Beatriz and Debora Carneiro are targeting medals and records at the upcoming International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Swimming Championships in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

The 19-year-old pair are both swimming for honours as they take on more than 160 other athletes from 20 countries from 27 November – 3 December.

“I want to prepare for the World Championships and get a medal at both World Intellectual Impairment Sport Championships and at the World [Para Swimming] Championships,” Beatriz said.

Débora agreed: “I want to go to the podium, win medals and break many records.”

The duo are not the only twins to compete at the highest level in para sport. Hungary’s Bernadett and Illona Biacsi are Paralympic runners in the T20 classification.

Beatriz and Debora both started swimming at the age of 13. They instantly fell in love with the sport and just six years later, Beatriz represented Brazil at her home Paralympic Games at Rio 2016.

The pair confess to a sibling rivalry which pushes them to the limit: “It’s cool! She gives me strength and I give her strength as well. I beat her records and she beats mine…it is an inspiration!” Beatriz said.

For Debora, whilst admitting competing against her sibling makes her nervous, there are just two rivals she keeps an eye on: “The clock and my sister.”

Beatriz and Debora are both targeting the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games as the next major milestone in their careers.

But Debora has even higher hopes: “I want to conquer the world!”

The 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships are the biggest competition for swimmers with an intellectual impairment since Rio 2016. They are also the most important stop on the road to the 2019 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games in Brisbane, Australia.

The Opening Ceremony takes place on 28 November before competition starts on 29 November.

The Championships will also be the first to feature new trial eligibility groups for Down syndrome and autism.

Live results, updates and behind the scenes content will be available at  World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ Facebook and Twitter.

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. 

Vila Real expecting ‘good memories and achievements’ at swimming Champs

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A swimmer, Felipe Caltran Vila Real, emerges from the water

Getty Images

Brazilian Paralympian Felipe Caltran Vila Real has spoken of his excitement for the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships which get underway in Aguascalientes, Mexico, on 28 November.

The 20-year-old made his Paralympic debut at his home Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Whilst he did not make the podium he is still looking to build on the experience.

“I have no words to describe the emotions I felt in front of that crowd,” he said. “It was certainly amazing.”

As one of his country’s best swimmers with an intellectual impairment, Vila Real already has his eyes on Tokyo 2020 and major regional events:

“I expect to be there, obviously, but more than that I aim at a medal. I think a medal in the Paralympics is the main goal, but also medals at the Parapan Am Games and so on.”

Vila Real began swimming when he was two-years-old. A doctor advised his parents he should take up sports “because of [his] hyperactivity”.

He will line-up in Aguascalientes as the defending champion in the men’s 200m butterfly. He is also a silver medallist in the 400m individual medley.

“I expect it to be a Championship full of good memories and achievements for me,” he said. “I expect a good competition because the athletes there are really determined.”

Rivals

Vila Real’s rivals include Japan’s Taiga Hayashida. He took bronze behind the Brazilian in the 400m individual medley in Ecuador in 2015.

“I haven’t taken a time to look at the start lists, but I am sure there is going to be a great field of athletes over there,” Vila Real concluded.

Aguascalientes 2017 will run from 28 November – 3 December and will see more than 150 athletes from 20 countries compete. It will be the biggest gathering of swimmers with an intellectual impairment since Rio 2016.

As well as athletes with intellectual impairments, trial groups for Down syndrome and autism will also be contested for the first time.

Live updates, videos and pictures will be available throughout at  World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ Facebook and Twitter.

 

An intellectually impaired runner

Global Games were important stepping stone for Martins

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Brazil’s Paralympic and world champion Daniel Martins has spoken of how the 2015 International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Global Games helped him on the road to claiming gold at Rio 2016.

In two years’ time, hundreds of athletes with intellectual impairments will travel to Brisbane, Australia, for the 2019 Global Games. They will be hoping that the event can have a similar impact for them as it did for Martins when he made his international debut there in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

“At the Global Games, I was able to study my adversaries for the next year,” Martins said. “So it helped a lot in terms of getting to know them beforehand. My coach was able to see my running and was able to correct any mistake during the race. So, I could get better at that time.”

Martins won multiple gold medals in Guayaquil, including wins in the 100m and 400m. But it was also important preparation for what has become a successful international career.

“It was a lot of fun, because I went to another country for the first time, was able to see another culture and could win five medals there,” he said.

Just one month after Guayaquil 2015 he made his World Para Athletics Championships debut in Doha, Qatar, and claimed his first world title in the 400m T20.

Then a year later Martins stormed to gold in a new world record time of 47.22 seconds at his home Paralympic Games. In 2017 he competed at the World Para Athletics Championships in London, Great Britain, where he defended his title.

“People now recognise me in the streets!” Martins said when asked how his life has changed. “I also feel like my family is prouder of me now.”

Martins is just 21-years-old and has a promising career ahead of him. This includes the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, but he is not taking anything for granted.

“I want to go strong for Tokyo but I have to think one step at a time,” Martins said. “I still have three years and a lot of competitions to come before 2020.”

His idol is Brazilian Olympian João da Barreira, who comes from Marilla in Sao Paulo – the same city as Martins. The youngster is grateful to have had the opportunity to train with da Barreira as well as make a wider difference to society through sport.

“I could do so many things… A lot of friends, could go to many places in the world and overcome the prejudice as a person with an impairment,” he said.

The 2019 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games will gather more than 1,000 athletes competing in nine sports between 12-20 October. It will be the world’s biggest gathering of athletes with an intellectual impairment.

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. 

 

Countries name teams for World Para Athletics Championships

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An intellectually impaired runner

The USA’s Breanna Clark celebrates winning gold in the women’s 400m T20 at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images for Tokyo 2020).

By World Intellectual Impairment Sport

A series of countries have named top athletes with intellectual impairments to their teams for the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, which get underway in London, Great Britain, on 14 July.

The hosts have selected four athletes to compete in T20 and F20 events on the track and field, choosing a mix of youth and experience amongst their 49-strong team as Para athletics returns to the Olympic Park.

Sabrina Fortune will get to experience the roar of a home crowd as the women’s shot put Rio 2016 Paralympic Games bronze medallist.

Middle distance runners James Hamilton and Stephen Morris will go head-to-head in the men’s 800m and 1,500m. Morris will also go for the podium in the 5,000m.

Martina Barber, 22, makes her World Championships debut in the long jump.

Great Britain’s Para athletics head coach Paula Dunn said: “We have selected a very strong team for the World Para Athletics Championships in London, and I am delighted to see so many medallists from Rio lining up alongside some new faces at the senior level. Having a home World Championship is very special for all the athletes, coaches and team staff, so we are all very honoured to be representing the British team this summer.”

The 2019 International Federation for Intellectual Disability Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Global Games hosts Australia are sending two field athletes to London.

Defending men’s shot put world champion Todd Hodgetts takes his place alongside long jumper Nicholas Hum.

Amongst the team representing the USA is Breanna Clark. The 22-year-old made a stunning debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games by winning gold in the women’s 400m.

Compatriot Michael Brannigan is the men’s 1,500m Paralympic and world title holder. He will also be looking to improve on his silver medal from the 2015 Worlds in Doha, Qatar, in the 5,000m.

Kaitlyn Bounds and Michael Murray complete the US line-up.

Paralympic Games hosts Brazil are looking to build on a solid performance from Rio 2016.

Daniel Tavares will try to defend his men’s 400m world title from Doha as the new Paralympic champion and world record holder.

Long jumper Alain Villamarin will compete at his second World Championships for Argentina.

The 2017 World Para Athletics Championships will be held in the same city as the IAAF World Championships for the first time.

London will host approximately 1,300 athletes contesting 213 medal events across 10 days of competition in all classifications.

Tickets and more information is available at the event website.