Serrano breaks world record at Rio 2016 Test Event

“I’ve felt very well from the beginning to the end and pushed myself in a strong rhythm to do this. This venue is great and the swimming pool is perfect for the competition.”

Colombian world champion Carlos Serrano made the most of his time in the Olympics Aquatic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday (23 April), breaking the 100m breaststroke SB7 world record at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Test Event.

Serrano, 17, shaved nearly one second off his own world best set in Merida, Mexico, in November, swimming 1:14.72.

He will now return in September for his Paralympic Games debut where he will hope to bring it down again.

“I won the race and broke the world record. I’m the number one in 100m breaststroke and this is the event I’m going to swim at the Paralympics,” Serrano said. “I’ve felt very well from the beginning to the end and pushed myself in a strong rhythm to do this. This venue is great and the swimming pool is perfect for the competition.”

Another 17-year-old, Brazil’s Cecilia Jeronimo, also had a great time in the pool on Saturday, winning the women’s 50m freestyle S8.

Jeronimo (31.83) is trying to qualify for Rio 2016 and the victory gave her the push she needs.

“At the heats I made a good job, but I know I could have done a better race. I had to clear my mind to swim the finals. I’ve talked to my coach and my psychologist and fortunately I could get this gold. Now I have to improve my trainings to keep myself on the road to Rio”.

Caio Amorim (4:38.24) took gold in the men’s 400m freestyle SM8 to secure Brazil’s second gold of the day.

After having to adapt his race preparations because of a schedule change, the 23-year-old think he has a lot left to give.

"I expected to be a little faster,” Caio said. “I thought I was ready to get the time here, but we had a change in the date of the test, it would be tomorrow and moved to today. I did not have much time to warm up with the change.

“But you cannot regret too much. I'll will raise my head and go to the next step aware that I am very well trained. In the morning I did not do a very good time and expected something better for the final. I'm pretty tired by the great cycle of races in such a short time, especially in the 400m, which is a test that requires a lot,” he concluded.

Around 212 athletes from19 countries are competing at the Test Event.

Live coverage of the competition, without a geoblock, is being shown at SportTV.

*All records are subject to ratification by IPC Swimming.

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Sport fans from around the world can now buy their Paralympic tickets for Rio 2016 from authorised ticket resellers (ATRs).

The IPC’s Global ATR is Jet Set Sports, and Rio 2016 tickets and packages can be purchased on the CoSport website.

Residents of Brazil can buy 2016 Paralympics tickets directly from the Rio 2016 website.