Ten swimmers to look out for at Toronto 2015

From Saturday (8 August) around 220 swimmers from 18 countries will compete in 116 medal events at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games.

At the last Games four years ago, Brazil and Mexico were the dominant forces in the pool in Guadalajara, but that could all change in Toronto with hosts Canada sending a very strong squad.

Coming off the back of July’s World Championships in Great Britain, many swimmers are in top form. Here are 10 names to look out for in the spectacular CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House.

1. Nadia Baez (Argentina)

The 26-year-old won bronze in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB11 at July’s World Championships, to add to the two world silvers she won in the same event in 2010 and 2013. She was also a bronze medallist at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

2. Andre Brasil (Brazil)

Four years ago in Guadalajara, Brasil won six gold medals from six events and at July’s World Championships in Glasgow, Great Britain, the 31-year-old again showed he is the man to beat in the S10 class winning three gold and two silver medals.

3. Nelson Crispin (Colombia)

The 23-year-old retained his 100m freestyle world title in July and also won a further two silver medals. Four years ago in Guadalajara he again won one gold and two silvers and will be difficult to beat in Toronto in the S6 class.

4. Daniel Dias (Brazil)

Brazil’s most decorated Paralympian of all-time is arguably the biggest name to be competing at Toronto 2015. The S5 swimmer left Guadalajara 2011 with an incredible 11 gold medals from 11 events, and won seven from seven at July’s IPC Swimming World Championships. In Toronto he is targeting a eight gold medals.

5. Nely Miranda Herrera (Mexico)

The two-time Paralympic champion from Beijing 2008 has got better with age. Since 2010, she has won eight world titles, including two which she claimed last month in Glasgow, Great Britain. At the 2011 Parapans, she won three bronze medals.

6. Belkys Mota (Venezuela)

An accomplished freestyler, Mota won the 50m and 100m S12 events and at the 2011 Parapan American Games. She also took bronze in the 100m breaststroke. She is also a world class swimmer in butterfly, finishing fifth in the 100m at both the Beijing and London Paralympics.

7. Lorenzo Perez (Cuba)

The 29-year-old won three golds from four events at Guadalajara 2011 and at the London 2012 Paralympic Games claimed silver in the 50m freestyle S6 and bronze over 100m.

8. Juan Reyes (Mexico)

The 33-year-old is one of Mexico’s most decorated swimmers having won five Paralympic and eight world titles in the S4 class since 1998. The veteran won two silver and two bronze medals four years ago at his home Parapans in Guadalajara.

9. Aurelie Rivard (Canada)

Rivard is one of Canada’s brightest young stars. Having won Paralympic silver at London 2012, she went on to win a medal in five events at her home World Championships in 2013. Last month, the 19-year-old collected two world titles in the women’s 50m and 400m freestyle S10.

10. Carlos Serrano Zarate (Colombia)

At just 16-years-old Zarate collected his first world title at the 2015 Worlds in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB7. When he gets into the pool at Toronto, he will be fulfilling one of his career ambitions, the other being to compete at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

To buy tickets for the Toronto 2015 Parapan Am swimming events please visit Ticketmaster.

You can watch all evening sessions live from Toronto 2015 at www.ipc-swimming.org