World Series 2025: Star-studded field for Indianapolis

The Para Swimming World Series reached its halfway mark of the 2025 season as the competition travels across the globe for the fifth meet of the year.

After the inaugural event in Fuji-Shizuoka, Japan, the next stop is in the American continent.

From Thursday to Saturday (24-26 April), 195 athletes from 17 nations will be competing in multi-class events at the IU Natatorium’s pool in Indianapolis, USA.

As the Singapore 2025 World Para Swimming Championship approaches, the swimmers are all the more focused on taking every chance to reach the minimum qualification criteria and book their spots at the most important event of the sport calendar.

All eyes on Singapore

Paralympic medallist Morgan Ray will be lead an 87-athlete home squad, returning back to the pool after his debut at the Games in Paris where he took a silver medal in the mixed 50m medley 20pts.

“I took a six-week break from the pool after Paris, so I'm excited to be back in the international spotlight racing again. Expectations are wide open. My main goals, of course, are to swim my heart out and make World Championships,” said Ray.

The post-Games version of the 22-year-old swimmer is even more confident and aims to keep grabbing medals. 

“I’m trying to make my third world championships team this year. With a Paralympic Games under my belt, I want to keep training and just continue to get better. If I make the worlds this year, I really want to get back on the podium in the 100m breaststroke,” he signed off.

Besides the men’s 100m breaststroke, Ray will also be in action in two other events at the IU Natatorium – the men’s 100m freestyle and 200m medley.

日本よ、行くぞ！

Get ready for three days of fast swims and stunning views — the first-ever Para Swimming World Series meet in Fuji-Shizuoka is approaching! 🤩#ParaSwimming #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/PKh6ItW9ta

— Para Swimming (@Para_swimming) April 7, 2025

A musical talent

Balancing laps in the pool with riffs on his guitar, Morgan Ray has struck a unique chord with fans online. 

The swimmer showcases not only athletic precision in the water but also musical talent off it, regularly treating followers to glimpses of his dual passions. 

“Guitar is something I love doing! There’s lots of similarities with swimming. I have found that like swimming, playing guitar has given me an ‘escape’ from this world. I am also in control of the work I put in and I like that. I think it's very important for athletes to expand their outlets. We are more than just athletes,” said Ray.

When asked which song he would like to have as the theme of his performance in the USA 2025, he did not hesitate.

“Life in the Fast Lane by the Eagles!”, which Ray kindly did a guitar solo specially for World Para Swimming social channels. The video can be seen here.

Excited to have USA’s Jessica Long back in the pool! 🥰👑🇺🇸

The multi-Paralympic medallist is set to compete at the Para Swimming World Series USA 2025 next week.

📲 Stay tuned!

🎥: @JessicaLong / Instagram#ParaSwimming #WorldSeries2025 #USA2025 pic.twitter.com/ihbE6uaS4f

— Para Swimming (@Para_swimming) April 17, 2025

Titans in action

The competition will also feature a strong field of Paralympic champions, many of whom are returning to the international stage in their signature events. 

Also being part of the home squad, the line-up includes established names such as Paralympic champions Jessica Long and Leanne Smith.

Long (S8) will compete in the women’s 100m backstroke, 100m butterfly and 400m freestyle while Smith (S3) will dive in the pool for five different events – women’s 50m, 100m, and 200m freestyle, 50m backstroke, and 50m breaststroke.

From Brazil, two prominent names - Gabriel Araujo, the reigning Paralympic and world champion in the men’s 50m and 100m backstroke S2; and Talisson Glock, a multi-medallist known for his versatility across freestyle and medley events, particularly the men’s 200m individual medley SM6 and 400m freestyle S6, will be in action.

Araujo (S2) will fight for medals in eight events – 50m, 100m, and 200m freestyle, 50m and 100m backstroke, 50m breaststroke, 50m butterfly, and 150m medley.

Glock (S6) will be in action in the men’s 100m and 400m freestyle, in addition to the 100m backstroke.

The Para Swimming World Series USA 2025 will be live streamed on the US Paralympic Swimming Facebook page.