Leanne Smith Improves Three World Records to Start Para Swimming World Series in Indy
American swimmer Leanne Smith lowered three world records on Thursday night in Indianapolis to start the 2025 Para Swimming World Series stop.
Smith won the multi-class women’s 100 freestyle in 1:26.76. For the S3 swimmer, that’s an improvement on the time of 1:27.62 she set at the World Championships in 2022. He split off the front of that 100 free was 39.99, chipping .04 off the time she set in Paris for another world record.
Smith picked up her second gold medal and third win in the 200 free, winning in 3:09.65 to destroy the mark of 3:15.48 she set at the IU Natatorium in 2022.
It’s a stunning return for the 36-year-old, who won two individual gold medals and two relay silvers in Paris, her second Paralympics. Smith took most of the fall off after Paris, returning to the pool in December.
Smith was joined by American Katie Kubiak, who celebrated her first career international meet with a pair of S4 world records. Kubiak went 1:17.72 in the 100 free, which takes 1.5 seconds out German Tanja Scholz’s record from 2022.
Kubiak was second in that event to Smith, according by time-standard points. She got the win in the 150 individual medley with a time of 2:32.03, which downs the SM4 world record of China’s Liu Yu (2:39.39). Kubiak, a student at NYU, also won the multi-class 50 butterfly in 40.24 and was second to Smith in the 200 free in 2:52.68.
Brazilian Gabriel Araujo was one of the night’s big winners in the first night of three in Indianapolis. The S2 swimmer, who won three gold medals at the Paris Paralympics, won the 100 free in 1:58.80. He added wins the 150 IM and the 50 fly and was second to Australian Darren Sisman (S14) in the 200 free.
Araujo was part of an international contingent at the Para Swimming World Series’ fifth stop of eight this year. Thomas Gallagher of Australia (S10) was second in the 100 free, followed by countryman Callum Simpson (S8) with Italian Simone Barlaam (S9) fourth.
Araujo’s win in the 50 fly was a 1-2 with countryman Matheus Brambilla. American Adin Williams was third, ahead of teammate Abbas Karimi with Canada’s Sebastian Massabie fifth.
Morgan Stickney (S7) joined Smith and Kubiak on the podium in the women’s 100 free, in a field that included fellow American Ellie Marks in fifth, Olivia Chambers in eighth and Gia Pergolini in 11th.
Kubiak’s win in the women’s 50 fly edged Danielle Dorris of Canada, who went 34.50. She was ahead of fellow S7 swimmers Mallory Weggeman in third and Julia Gaffney fourth. Marks was fifth.
American Lawrence Sapp went 2:05.27 in the 200 free to finish third behind Sisman and Araujo. Chile’s Alberto Abarza was fourth.
The race for the last podium spot in the women’s 200 free came down to three S14 swimmers. Aussie Kael Thompson went 2:20.31 to get that spot, ahead of Canada’s Emma van Dyk and Piper Sadowski of the U.S.
Thompson and Sisman were part of a winning S14 mixed medley relay for Australia, with Ruby Storm and Ricky Betar. They edged the American squad of Sadowski, Trevor Lukacsko, Sapp and Abby Kershaw.
