Paralympic Champion Benjamin Hance Takes World Record Tally To Three At Queensland Championships
Not satisfied with one world record on Wednesday, Australian Paralympic man-of-the- moment, Benjamin Hance has gone one step further in Brisbane today, breaking a further two world records in one day at the Hancock Prospecting Queensland Championships.
The 25-year-old three-time Paralympic gold medalliust from Tokjyo and Paris, lowered his own Virtus world record in the 50m backstroke yesterday morning and went under the old world record to win the final last night.
Hance, from St Andrews on the Queensland Sunshine Coast, arrived back at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre today, with another world record in his sights in the heats of the Multi-Cass 50m butterfly and after 24.50 seconds he left with that box ticked.
Not done just yet, Benny arrived back at the pool for the final and in another eye-catching exhibition destroyed his own personal best, setting his third world record of the meet, clocking 24.27.
For his backstroke world record, Hance was awarded the Swimmer of the Session, with the following citation: He is the swimmer of the session for yesterday, with the following wording:
“Wednesday’s Swimmer of the Session is awarded to Benjamin Hance, from St Andrews, coached by Ashley Delaney, following his exceptional swim in the 50m backstroke, recording a time of 25.76, a new Virtus World Record.
“Ben has now broken a Virtus World Record at these Championships for five consecutive years – four times in the 50m Backstroke and twice in the 50m Butterfly.”
Add his two world records today and that makes it eight world records in five years.
Meanwhile New Zealand Grayson Couter (North Shore Swimming) also continued on his record-breaking assault, taking four seconds off the previous Queensland and Australian All-Comers record in the 13 years 200m freestyle, clocking an extraordinary time of 1:52.13.
The multi-talented Kiwi has already set new All-Comers records in the 400m freestyle –clocking under 4 minutes for the first time with his 3:59.40 after setting All-Comers records – of 51.63 in the 100m freestyle and 2:06.90 in the 200IM.
While in the 16 years 1500m freestyle,. the Swimmer Of The Session from Tuesday night Lincoln Wearing (Chandler) has tonight completed the 100, 200, 400 and 1500m freestyle 16 years titles – adding the 1500m tonight in a new Queensland All-Comers record time of 15:18.98 – the old mark of 15:27.54 set by Jordan Harrison in 2011 – 24 hours after he had lowered Kieren Perkins 35-year-old 16 years 800m freestyle record.
