Australian Paralympian Rowan Crothers Flirts With 14-Year-old World Record On The Gold Coast

Australian Paralympian Rowan Crothers Flirts With 12-Year-old World Record On The Gold Coast

One of the oldest Paralympic world records is again officially under siege after Australia’s Rowan Crothers went agonisingly close to a 50m freestyle mark set 14 years ago at the London Games of 2012.

The 28-year-old 2025 World Champion in the S10 category clocked the second fastest time in history at the opening 2026 World Para Series event which concluded on the Gold Coast last night.

Queenslander Crothers, now training at the Adelaide-based South Australian Institute of Sport program at the Marion Swim Club, under long-time coach Kate Sparkes, clocked a new Oceania record time of 23.29 (1033pts).

It was just 0.13secs outside Brazilian legend Andre Brasil’s world record time of 23.16, set when he won gold at the 2012 Paralympics in London.

The time betters Crothers previous best of 23.21, the Oceania record he swam to win Paralympic gold in Tokyo in 2021 and again when he won last’s year’s world title in Singapore.

And the six-time Paralympic medallist and eight-time world champion has only got to look over his shoulder to see his main opposition with fellow Australian and reigning Paris Olympic champion Tom Gallagher (1011pts) finishing second in 23.86 with Canadian Fernando Lu third in 24.94.

Gallagher clocked 23.40 in his Paris win, ahead of Brazil’s Phelipe Rodrigues (23.54) with Crothers third in 23.79.

Unfortunately, when it comes to this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Crothers and Gallagher won’t get the chance to contest the 50m freestyle – with the S10s lining up in the 100m butterfly – an event which now sees an abundance of riches in Australia.

With Paris bronze S10 bronze medallist Alex Saffy taking out the event on the Gold Coast in 58.08 (905) from S9 Paris IM gold medallist Timothy Hodge (1:00.82) and Tokyo S10 bronze medallist Col Pearse – with Gallagher fourth, Crothers sixth, Tokyo S9 gold medallist Will Martin seventh and 17-year-old rising star Beau Matthews eighth in a star-studded fly final.

Swimming Australia Paralympic Program Head Coach Mel Tantrum said it is exciting to see Australia boast such talent and depth in the event and classification.

“When you have the likes of Tom Gallagher and Rowan Crothers pushing Col Pearse and Alex Saffy, plus young gun Beau Matthews and an experienced Will Martin, it has created fierce competition right across the field,” Tantrum said.

In other results, Paris golden boys Hodge and Ben Hance, also swam within striking distance of their respective world records in an encouraging start to a busy 2026.

Hance chose not to swim in his race suit ahead of the men’s 100m backstroke final clocking 57.25. Hance holds the world mark at 55.99.

In the men’s 200m individual medley, Para champion Hodge, who holds the world record at 2:12.03 will be encouraged by his 2:15.00.

While 400m freestyle S9 Para champion Lakeisha Patterson scored an encouraging win in the 100m freestyle in 1:03.26 (969pts) from S14 Madeleine McTernan (1:00.20) and S9 Emily Beecroft (1:04.88) with Paris golden girl Alexa Leary seventh in 1:03.42.

Two-time Paralympian Keira Stephens, who recently moved to Mel Marshall’s squad at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, won the women’s 100m breaststroke.

25-Strong Australian Team Named For World Para Series in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy

EIGHT MEMBERS of Australia’s Paris Paralympic swim team and a host of new faces are amongst a 25-strong National squad named for the second round of the World Para Series in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy next month.

It follows the opening round of the Series which attracted more than 150 athletes from 12 countries for the opening round on the Gold Coast.

The three-day meet featured promising schoolgirl Mia Hogan, a 14-year-old vision-impaired athlete who is the youngest member of the Australian team.

Hailing from the NSW regional centre of Albury, the teenager secured times in the women’s 50m and 100m freestyle fast enough to be considered for 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

At the other end of the spectrum the team will be led by 32-year-old five-time Paralympian, Brenden Hall – 18 years her senior.

LEADING THE WAY: Brenden Hall World at the Para Series on the Gold Coast. Photo Courtesy Nardia Mulkerrins / Swimming Australia.

A seven-time Paralympian medallist, Hall carried the flag at the Opening Ceremony For Australia in 2024 and would become the first Australian swimmer to attend six Paralympics if he makes the team for LA28.

Hall will be joined on the European tour by Paris teammates, four-time Paralympian Ahmed Kelly (VIC) and Hall’s fellow Queenslanders Emily Beecroft, Callum Simpson, Kiera Stephens, Maddy McTernan, Jenna Jones and Lewis Bishop.

The 25-strong Australian Squad for the World Para Series in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy, March 12-15.