Five-time Beijing Paralympic gold medallist Matt Cowdrey is in fine form after claiming his first gold medal of the meet at the Australian Short Course Championships in Brisbane.

In a show that his pre-World Championships and Commonwealth Games preparations are right on track, Cowdrey knocked off 0.54 of a second from his heat swim to win gold in the men’s multi-class 50m butterfly.

Finishing strongly in 26.61, Cowdrey was too good for three-time Beijing Paralympic gold medallist Peter Leek, while fellow Paralympian Matt Levy rounded out the podium with bronze.

Leek sought retribution later in the night, beating both Cowdrey and Levy to the post to claim gold in the men’s 200m individual medley.

In the women’s multi-class 50m butterfly, Western Australian teenager Madeline Scott won gold, hitting the pads in 31.81. Finishing in second and just off the pace was Queenslander Annabelle Williams, while 15-year-old Taylor Corry finished strongly securing third place on the medal dais.

Eighteen-year-old Kayla Clarke won gold in the women’s 200m individual medley, beating Beijing Paralympians Teigan Van Roosmalen and Ellie Cole who took out silver and bronze respectively.

Eight multi-class swimmers will compete with the Australian Team at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, after the IPC World Championships in Eindhoven, The Netherlands in August. They are Ben Austin, Blake Cochrane, Ellie Cole, Matt Cowdrey, Peter Leek, Andrew Pasterfield and Annabelle Williams.
 

By APC Media