Madeira to host 2021 World Para Swimming Championships

The World Para Swimming Championships will head to Madeira in 2021. This will be the first time that the World event takes place in Portugal.

The Penteada Olympic Swimming Complex, located in the centre of Madeira’s capital Funchal, will play host to more than 600 swimmers and is familiar territory to many of them.

The Madeira 2021 Worlds is set to take place from 25 September to 1 October.

Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), said:

“We are delighted to announce Madeira as hosts of the 2021 World Para Swimming Championships. The city and the region have long planned for this event and have set an important example to future hosts by first organising a regional competition before bidding for the Worlds. This is testimony to the development of Para swimming, and Para sports in general, in Portugal.”

Antonio Jose Silva, President of the Portuguese Swimming Federation (FPN), said:

“The FPN is very proud to be part of the process of development of Para swimming in Portugal, Europe and the world. Once again, together with the Regional Government of Madeira, the Municipal Chamber of Funchal and the Madeira Swimming Association, we will organise a major event. This time, a worldwide one. It will be a unique moment in sporting terms and also in terms of representation and inclusion through Para sport in a city and a country.”

Tracy Glassford, World Para Swimming Senior Manager, said:

“The Portuguese Swimming Federation, Funchal and Madeira have been important partners of World Para Swimming for long time. Since they first bid for the European Championships almost five years ago, we have worked together to deliver major events and have witness their hard work and commitment to our sport. Madeira 2021 represents the beginning of a new cycle towards the Paris 2024 Paralympics and we are looking forward to a great Championships.”

There are currently four events for athletes with intellectual impairment (class S14) on the para programme. These are 200m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 400m freestyle, with the new event of 100m butterfly added for the Tokyo Games. A 4 x 100 freestyle relay mixed gender may also be added once its viability is considered after the conclusion of the 2019 World Para Swimming Championship in London on 15th September.

Great Britain took Gold in the trial relay event, with a stunning performance from Tom Hamer, Bethany Firth, Jessica Jane Applegate and Reece Dunn, with a World Record posted in the final leg.

For more information on the 2021 World Para Swimming Championships contact World Para Swimming.

For more information on the British Team plans for the 2021 Championships, contact British Swimming.

For more information on classification for swimmers with intellectual impairment, contact the UK Sports Association.

(Photos & Story courtesy of World Para Swimming)