The Swedish duo of Mikael Fredriksson and Maja Reichard have turned the lights up on the para-swimming world this past weekend at the Malmo Open, where the three combined to break 6 World Records in short course meters across three days of competition,
“The feeling was amazing the whole weekend,” Fredriksson said after her history-making performance. “It’s just crazy. I think when we each had 2 records is when we began keeping score…It was unreal! But also a lot of fun! It was a perfect start to this Paralympic year and gives you that extra motivation to push even further!”
Courtesy: Mikael Fredriksson
Fredrikkson, who swims in the S3 class, grabbed 3 of the 7 World Records from the weekend. The first came in the 100 IM, where his 2:12.72 obliterated his own personal best, and World Record, of 2:34.28 set at this same meet in 2014.
Later in the meet, he swam a 1:03.71 in the 50 fly which again was well, well clear of the old record of 1:18.82 done by Britain’s Kenneth Cairns in 1998. Cairns was a stately 41-years old when he broke that record 18 years ago. Fredrikkson would break another Cairns record when he swam a 53.91 in the men’s 50 free, which improved upon the old record of 55.55 from 2005 (when Cairns was an unbelievable 48-years old).
Frerikkson would wind up a perfect 5-for-5 on record-breaking swims thanks to his 57.88 in the 50 back that improved upon another very old European Record: a 58.13 done by his countryman Petter Edstrom in 1997. After narrowly missing the World Record by just .22 seconds in that swim, Fredriksson requested a time trial, and improved his time down to a 57.34 to get the eventual record.
Of those events, the 50 free and 50 back are on the 2016 Paralympic schedule for swimmers in the S3 class.
Courtesy: Mikael Fredriksson
Meanwhile, Maja Reichard added 2 World Records of her own swimming in the S11 class on the weekend. After coming very close with a prelims swim of 38.75, Reichard was able to dip under the SB11 World Record in the 50m breaststroke with a 38.52 in finals.
She also clipped the 50 free record in the finals of that race by swimming a 31.12, just dipping under the old record of 31.14.
Editor’s Note: Jon Sverrison Margeirsson, who competes in the S14 class, won the 50 free in 24.52, which meet results list as a new World Record. The IPC does not recognize World Records in the 50 free for S14 swimmers, however.