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Paralympic champion and world record holder Alexa Leary won gold in the 100m freestyle S9 but missed setting the new world mark she desperately wanted, as the Australian Para Swimming Team ended the fourth day of the 2025 World Championships in Singapore with two gold.
Leary went all out in the final individual race of the night and was peerless in securing victory. Her time of 59.19 was almost three seconds ahead of the field and just outside the championship record (58.95) she set in the morning’s heat. It also fell just short of her world mark of 58.89.
“Of course I am a bit disappointed,” Leary said. “I was so close to the record in the morning but I’m really proud that I got it (the gold). That is the biggest that I wanted.
“I’ve still got more left in the tank and now I’m even more determined to beat my 50 metres world record later this week, just you wait.”
Leary set a world-best time of 27.23s in the 50m free at Sydney Open in May that broke USA’s Christie Raleigh Crossley previous mark of 27.25 set during the heats in Paris. Crossley and Leary will face off in the women’s 50m freestyle S9 on Day 7.
Leary’s win came after Callum Simpson opened the night with a thrilling win in the men’s 100m freestyle S8. The Paris Paralympics champion in the event hit the wall in an Oceania record time of 57.15 and held off Italy’s Alberto Amodeo (57.88) and Eduard Horodianyn from Ukraine (58.14).
Simpson’s maiden world championship title follows his Oceania record and bronze medal in the 400m freestyle S8 on Day 1. The 18-year-old, who was named the 2024 Australian Institute of Sport Discovery of the Year, has the 50m freestyle and 200m individual medley still to come.
“I was definitely not expecting to go that fast and break the Oceania record, or for the race to be that quick,” Simpson said.
“It feels amazing to hold onto my title from last year. Plus, to put in a race like that against such good competitors and see my hard work pay off, it means the world.”
In other events, Emily Beecroft backed up from her 100m ‘fly bronze medal the previous day to finish fourth (1:03.97). Lakeisha ‘Lucky’ Patterson took advantage of the 100m hit-out ahead of her chance to defend her world championship title in the 400m freestyle S9. Patterson placed seventh overall (1:04.59).
Photo: Delly Carr
By Swimming Australia
Published: 25 September 2025
