Australian Paralympic Star Benjamin Hance Continues World Report Assault At Queensland Championships
There isn’t any stopping Australian Paralympic golden boy Benjamin Hance who has continued his world file breaking assault on the 50m backstroke on the 2025 Hancock Prospecting Queensland Championships on the Brisbane Aquatic Centre.
For the seventh time in 5 years the 25-year-old from the Sunshine Coast, has lowered the Virtus World Report*, clocking a time of 25.76 in yesterday’s preliminaries earlier than breaking his earlier mark once more to win final evening’s last in 25.89 – occasions that may have seen him end fifth in open firm.
PUMPED: Ben Hance celebrates his 50m backstroke WR Picture Courtesy Wade Brennan (Swimming Queensland)
AND MAKING A SPLASH. Ben Hance taking advantage of his WR Swim.Picture Courtesy Wade Brennan (Swimming Queensland)
The 2-time Paralympic gold medallist and three-time world champion within the 100m backstroke for S14 swimmers, Hance first broke the mark in 2021 with a time of 27.00 seconds.
The boy from St Andrews has made the Queensland Championships his comfortable searching floor over the previous three years, decreasing the file, which he has made his personal, over and over in a pure one-man domination.
Twice within the sooner or later on the 2023 States, decreasing the mark to 26.54 within the heats after which once more to 26.47 within the last – the primary swims underneath 27 seconds.
Final 12 months, the Ashley Delaney coached Hance, lowered the file once more to 26.15 seconds within the warmth.
Yesterday’s performances noticed him break the 26 second barrier for the primary time and capping off one other extremely profitable 12 months which noticed him win his third World Para Championship within the 100m backstroke – including to his wins in 2022 Madeira and 2023 in Manchester.
CLASSIC START: Isaac Cooper (left) and Kalani Eire launch themselves off the blocks within the 50m backstroke last. Picture Courtesy Wade Brennan (Swimming Queensland).
It was a giant day for the St Andrews excessive efficiency backstroking staff with twin Olympian and 2024 world champion Isaac Cooper profitable the open class within the 50m backstroke in 25.06, forward of Korean pair Juho Lee (25.23) and Yuchan Ji (25.49).
Whereas St Andrews 19-year-old Mackenzie Burns gained the bronze medal within the open womens in 28.64, behind WA’s Paris Olympian Iona Anderson (Highlanders, WA) 27.79 and British woman Lauren Cox (27.89).
And rising St Andrews star, Jack Morrow gained the 18 years last in 25.97 after already profitable the 17/18 years 200m backstroke in 2:01.11
LOOK WHO’S BACK: 2008 Beijing Olympian Ashley Delaney again within the pool on the Queensland Championships. Picture Courtesy Wade Brennan (Swimming Queensland).
Ashley Delaney begins his return to competitors. Picture Courtesy Wade Brennan (Swimming Queensland).
With 2008 Beijing Olympian Ashley Delaney, the St Andrews head coach and mentor to his staff, main by instance.
Yesterday’s racing additionally noticed the Olympic backstroker, return to racing and exhibiting he’s nonetheless acquired it, at 39 years younger, clocking 27.91 – incomes him the second reserve place for final evening’s last.
(*A Virtus World Report is an official top-performance mark set inside competitions sanctioned by Virtus, World Mental Impairment Sport. The worldwide governing physique for elite athletes with mental impairments. These data differ from normal Paralympic world data as Virtus recognises and maintains data for a broader vary of athletes and occasions).
In different occasions:
SAM Brief (Rackley) continued his strong kind at these Championships, including the 800m freestyle final evening in 7:46.33 to his 400m win in 3:45.88 earlier within the week. Brief was out in 3:50.62 and took management of the race by means of the second 400m, coming again in 3:55.71 to swim away from Junwoo Kim (7:49.90) with Dolphins Singapore World’s debutant Benjamin Goedemans (St Peters Western) third in 7:57.75.
TIANA Kritzinger (Rackley) swam a solo race to win the ladies’s 1500m freestyle in 16:24.22 from Korean Chaeyuyn Kim (16:33.67) and Jacqueline Davison-McGovern (St Peters Western) third in 16:44.99.
ALL SMILES: Lincoln Sporting can’t wipe the smile off his face after an incredible week within the pool on the Queensland Championships.Picture Courtesy Wade Brennan (Swimming Queensland).
LINCOLN Sporting (Chandler) who smashed Kieren Perkins 16 years Australian All-Comers file on Tuesday evening added his third title of the meet, breaking 1:50 for the primary time to profitable the 200m freestyle in 1:49.68 after profitable the 100m in 50.47, the 400m in 3:48.15 and the 800m in 7:56.80 in a most spectacular week’s racing.
HENRY Allan (East Bendigo, VIC) who clocked the quickest 50m backstroke time of the day – profitable the 17 years last in a powerful 24.59 (nonetheless 0.30 exterior his greatest).
GRAYSON Coulter (North Shore Swimming, NZL) The multi-talented Kiwi continued his demolition of the 13 years Australian and Queensland All-Comers data setting one other new mark within the 400m freestyle – this time clocking 4 minutes for the primary time together with his 3:59.40. Including to this week’s All-Comers data – together with his 51.63 within the 100m freestyle and a pair of:06.90 within the 200IM, and;
MADELINE MCTERNAN (Griffith) who scored an all-the-way win within the MC 50m backstroke in her greatest time of 32.19, ending forward of Airlie Davis (Nunawading, VIC) 34.54 and Victoria Belando-Nicholson (Yeronga, Park, QLD) 36.68.
2025 Hancock Prospecting Queensland Championships, Day 5, Open FINALS:
Males
800m freestyle: Sam Brief (Rackleys) 7:46.33, Junwoo Kim (Korea) 7:49.90, Benjamin Goedemans (St Peters Western) 7:57.75
50m backstroke: Isaac Cooper (St Andrews) 25.06 Juho Lee (Korea) 25.23, Yuchan Ji (Korea) 25.49
50m backstroke MC: Benjamin Hance (St Andrews, S14) 25.89 (Virtus World Report), Samuel Gould (Griffith College, S14) 30.42, Dylan Neil (Brisbane Jets, S18) 41.93
Girls
1500m freestyle: Tiana Kritzinger (Rackleys) 16:24.22, Chaeyun (Korea) 16:33.67, Jacqueline Davison-McGovern (St Peters Western) 16:44.99
50m backstroke: Iona Anderson (Highlanders, WA) 27.79, Lauren Cox (GBR) 27.89, Mackenzie Burns (St Andrews) 28.64
50m backstroke MC: Madeleine McTernan (Griffith College, S14) 32.19, Airlie Davis(Nudgee School Aquatics), 34.54, Victoria Belando-Nicholson (Yeronga Park) 34.54.
PARTING PIC. Queensland Championships. Picture Courtesy Wade Brennan (Swimming Queensland)
