From August 15-21, 2010 the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
Swimming World Championships will take place in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
Some of the men and women to watch are already used to the feeling of victory.
Mirjam de Koning-Peper from the Netherlands holds the world record in
the women’s 50m Freestyle (S6) and the Paralympic record in the
women’s 800m Freestyle. She has multiple medals to her name, including two
gold and two silver from the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games in the women’s
100m Backstroke, 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle and the 400m Freestyle
respectively.
Natalie du Toit broke more than a handful of records this year,
including in the women’s 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1,500m and Freestyle
(S9), and in the 50m, 100m and 200m Butterfly.
Other athletes like United States’ Mallory Weggemann (S7) and
Singapore’s Pin Xiu Yip (S3) hold multiple records in the Freestyle and
Backstroke events respectively and will also be at the World Championships.
On the men’s side, Brazil’s Andre Brasil holds the world record in the
men’s 50m, 100m, 200m and 800m Freestyle (S10), the 50m Backstroke and
100m Butterfly.
Great Britain’s Sascha Kindred holds several world records including in
the men’s 100m Butterfly (S6) and Paralympic record in the 200m Individual
Medley (SM6). Kindred first competed at the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games,
where he took the silver medal in the men’s 100m Breaststroke (SB7).
Other competing athletes with records include South Africa’s Kevin Paul
and Australia’s Peter Leek. Paul holds world records in the men’s 200m
Breaststroke (SB9) and the 400m Individual Medley (SM10), while Leek holds
world records in the men’s 100m and 200m Butterfly (S8), and the 200m and 400m
Individual Medley (SM8).
A total of 655 athletes from 54 different countries will be
participating inside the Pieter van den Hoogenband Swimming Stadium, competing
for the gold, silver and bronze medal in their respective event. The number of
participating athletes and countries in Eindhoven will be one of the largest of
any previous Swimming World Championships.
