It was an exclamation mark on a world championships campaign that is set to spearhead the Dolphins on a golden pathway to Glasgow and beyond.

And it was only fitting that the Dolphins fantastic four – Lex Leary, Rowan Crothers, Chloe Osborn and Callum Simpson in the last swim of the entire program – combined to deliver a world record (3:58.40) in the mixed 4x100m free and Australia’s 9th gold medal of the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore.

Leary only knows one speed and that’s flat out – the freshly crowned silver medallist in the 50m freestyle – dove in first and at a blazing pace changed over to Crothers in 58.79. That’s quicker than her official 100m S9 world record time of 58.89 seconds. (In mixed para swimming, lead off swims are not eligible for world records).

Crothers, Australia’s undisputed sprint king who holds the 100m and 50m S10 crown, set Osborn up for a comfortable lead with his 50.62 split. Just over two-hours before, world championship debutant Osborn won silver in the 100m S7 final and then handed off to Simpson who powered home for gold.

The Dolphins, with head coach Mel Tantrum at the helm, will be taking home nine gold, nine silver and eight bronze medals for a total of 26 medals after finishing seventh on the medal table behind Italy (18-17-11), USA (18-6-11) and China (17-9-7).

And it was a combination of gold medals from six individuals, including a double gold haul from Crothers and Simpson, a world-record breaking relay, and some timely assists from veterans such as Brenden Hall, Ahmed Kelly and Rachael Watson that has set up an exciting 10 months to Glasgow.

Tantrum said: “Experienced campaigners like Brenden Hall, Lucky (Patterson) and Tim (Hodge) really stepped up in and out of the pool and our emerging athletes like Callum Simpson and Chloe Osborn were buoyed by their momentum.”

“Singapore was a successful campaign, especially by our measure of success for individual performance … in comparison, Manchester 2023 was our most successful world champs campaign in a decade, in terms of individual gold medals with 8, and we have equalled that.

“We have a good mix of youth and experience and our performance measures are being met … the first two years of a Paralympic cycle are all about building individual experience and expertise so we as a whole team can succeed and lift on the runway to Glasgow, LA and beyond. What this team achieved here in Singapore reflects this success.”

Tantrum then said some highlights of the Dolphins seven-day campaign included:

  • Not just Ben Hance’s world record (100m backstroke S14) but his ability to consistently produce world-class performances in the big arena;
  • Simpson at his debut worlds improving on his gold in the 100m free S8 to back up and claim a second world title in the 200m IM;
  • Leary’s exponential progression from her accident three years ago and that the freestyler continues to raise the bar in the S9 class, record after record, gold after gold;
  • Patterson’s ability to overcome numerous barriers and defend her world title and her growth as a leader;
  • Debutant Declan Budd, a New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder, 17, graduating from high school the same week the team left for Darwin staging camp. Budd featured in all three finals of his events.

Additionally, Sunshine Coast’s 18-year-old Simpson boasted the biggest medal tally of the 25-strong Dolphins team with three golds, one silver and a bronze.

Tonight’s haul of one gold, three silver and one bronze, was ignited by Tom Gallagher who claimed a silver medal win from lane 8 in the men’s 100m backstroke S10.

Then the most senior female member on the team, Rachael Watson, 33, claimed a bronze medal in the women’s 100m freestyle S3.

2025 World Para Swimming Championships | Dolphins Medal Tally

Gold:

  • Rowan Crothers – men’s 50m freestyle S10
  • Ben Hance – men’s 100m backstroke S14
  • Tim Hodge (NSWIS) – men’s 200 individual medley SM9
  • Callum Simpson – men’s 100m freestyle S8
  • Alexa Leary – women’s 100m freestyle S9
  • Lakeisha Patterson – women’s 400m freestyle S9
  • Callum Simpson – men’s 200m individual medley SM8
  • Rowan Crothers – men’s 100m freestyle S10
  • Mixed 4x100m freestyle 34pt – Alexa Leary, Rowan Crothers, Chloe Osborn (NSWIS), Callum Simpson

Silver:

  • Tom Gallagher – men’s 50m freestyle S10
  • Ahmed Kelly – men’s 150m individual medley SM3
  • Chloe Osborn (NSWIS) – women’s 400m freestyle S7
  • Jake Michel – men’s 100m breaststroke SB14
  • Tim Hodge – men’s 100m butterfly S9
  • Callum Simpson – men’s 50m freestyle S8
  • Tom Gallagher – men’s 100m backstroke S10
  • Chloe Osborn (NSWIS) – women’s 100m freestyle S7
  • Alexa Leary – women’s 50m freestyle S9

Bronze:

  • Callum Simpson – men’s 400m freestyle S8
  • Lewis Bishop – men’s 100m butterfly S9
  • Alex Tuckfield (NSWIS) – men’s 400m freestyle S10
  • Emily Beecroft – women’s 100m butterfly S9
  • Brenden Hall – men’s 400m freestyle S9
  • Col Pearse – men’s 100m butterfly S10
  • Mixed medley 34pt relay – Tom Gallagher, Tim Hodge (NSWIS), Emily Beecroft, Chloe Osborn (NSWIS)
  • Rachael Watson – women’s 100m freestyle S3

Tags Alex TuckfieldChloe OsbornDeclan BuddTim Hodge

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