Citi World Series: Araujo duo leads Brazil to top of medals table in France

The Citi Para Swimming World Series France 2024 concluded at L’Aquapolis in Limoges, France, showcasing remarkable performances from Para swimmers worldwide in the last international competition before the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Brazil emerged as the top-performing nation, followed by strong showing from the host country, France and Colombia.

Brazil's dominance was evident in nine out of 24 events during the four-day competition. Two-time Paralympic champion Gabriel Araujo (S2) won the men's 100m freestyle and 150m medley besides two silver medals in the 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke.

Another Brazilian Paralympic champion, Gabriel Bandeira (S14), also collected two gold medals in the men's 200m medley and 100m butterfly, and a silver medal in the 100m freestyle.

World champion Samuel de Oliveira (S5), on the way to his first-ever Paralympic Games, had a similar performance and added to Brazil's medal tally with a win in the men's 50m butterfly and the men's 50m backstroke. 

In the women's events, Paralympic medallist Cecilia Araujo (S8) claimed victories in both 100m and the 50m freestyle, underlining Brazil's strength in the competition.

🇧🇷 #TeamBrazil shone brightly on the final day of races in Limoges, France, as they took home 3 out of the 8 gold medals at stake:

🥇 Samuel Oliveira (S5) in the 50m backstroke
🥇 Talisson Glock (S6) in the 400m freestyle
🥇 Gabriel Bandeira (S14) in the 100m butterfly pic.twitter.com/xoa8D9M1Vu

— #ParaSwimming (@Para_swimming) June 10, 2024

Hosts on podium

The French squad collected two gold medals during the competition thanks to the efforts of Ugo Didier and Agathe Pauli. Didier (S9), a Paralympic medallist, triumphed in the men's 100m backstroke while Pauli took the first place in the women’s 400m freestyle.

Other important names who collected medals for the hosts are Laurent Chardard (S6) secured third place in both the men's 100m freestyle and men's 50m butterfly, showcasing his versatility. Dimitri Granjux (SM4) finished second in the men's 150m medley, and Alex Portal (SM13) achieved third place in the men's 200m medley and second in the 400m freestyle.

Colombian athletes also made a significant impact. Two-time Paralympic champion Carlos Serrano Zarate (S7) excelled in multiple events, winning the men's 50m freestyle and the men's 100m breaststroke. In the women's 100m freestyle, Maria Paula Zapata (S10) secured a third-place finish and took second place in the women's 50m freestyle, demonstrating Colombia's competitive presence in the series.

Other notable performances included Nuria Soto (S9) from Spain, who won the women's 100m backstroke, and Muslima Odilova (S13) from Uzbekistan, who claimed victory in the women's 100m butterfly. Georgia Sheffield (S14) from Great Britain triumphed in the women's 200m freestyle, adding to the diversity of winning nations.

Pause for the Games

After seven meets in 2024, passing by four out of five continents of the globe, the Citi Para Swimming World Series will take a break as the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games is approaching.

The most important competition of the Paralympic cycle takes place in the French capital with the Opening Ceremony taking place on 28 August and the Para Swimming races starting a day after and concluding on 7 September at La Défense Arena.

The Citi World Series returns with two more meets, the first in Guadalajara, Mexico in November and, in December, it’s Africa’s turn to host the competition in Cairo, Egypt.