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The wait will soon be over for almost 150 of the world’s leading Para-swimmers, with the third edition of the 2019 World Para-swimming World Series set to begin in Melbourne today (15 February).

Following the hugely successful 2017 and 2018 editions, Melbourne will be the first of seven stops across four continents between February and June this year.

It is the first time the World Series travels to Australia, one of the global heartlands of the sport. Singapore will also stage the high-profile event for the first time in 2019, with the USA, Brazil, Great Britain, Italy and Germany playing host as well.

With swimmers from more than 15 countries contesting 64 events over the three-day meet, this weekend’s World Series will give an early indication of the swimmers to watch in the lead-up to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Among them are home crowd favourites and multiple Paralympic gold medallists Ellie Cole and Brenden Hall.

“To host the first meet of the 2019 international World Para-swimming season is a real coup for Melbourne and speaks volumes about the facilities we have in Australia,” said Swimming Australia’s Paralympic Performance Manager, Adam Pine.

“Attracting high-calibre athletes from around the world will provide our swimmers with valuable race experience as they set their sights on the World Para-swimming Championships later this year.”

All the action from Melbourne will be streamed live on World Para-swimming’s website and Facebook page.

By World Para-swimming
Posted: 14/02/2019
Photo with thanks to Michael Willson