Christie Raleigh Crossley Leads American Podium Sweep to Close Out Citi Para Swimming Series

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Christie Raleigh Crossley Leads American Podium Sweep to Close Out Citi Para Swimming Series

Christie Raleigh Crossley led an American sweep of the podium in the women’s 100 backstroke Saturday to close out Night 3 of the 2023 Citi Para Swimming Series stop in Minneapolis.

Crossley, who set the S9 women’s 50 back record in Italy last month, won the 100 back in 1:10.01. She was followed by two-time Paralympic gold medalist Hannah Aspden and Elizabeth Smith.

That swim was the second American podium sweep of the evening, bring the total to 40 medals won over three days of competition at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center on the campus of the University of Minnesota. Earlier in the night, Olivia Chambers edged out teammate Elizabeth Marks to the win in the 200 individual medley. Third went to Colleen Young.

“It was great to be on the podium with my teammates,” Chambers said in a US Para Swimming press release. “I’m so glad to have such a supportive team and I couldn’t be more thankful.”

The sweeps accounted for the only two gold medals of the night for the U.S. Abbas Karimi finished second in the men’s 50 back, while David Abrahams (200 IM) and Lawrence Sapp (100 back) each collected bronze medals.

Ugo Didier completed a stellar meet. The Frenchman made it six total medals, five of them gold, by winning the men’s 200 IM and the 100 back. Barry McClements of Ireland was second in the latter.

The Mexican team had a stellar evening. Angel de Jesus Camacho won the men’s 50 back and was second to countryman Christopher Gregorio Tronco in the men’s 150 IM. Nely Edith Miranda edged out Brazil’s Lidia Vieira Da Cruz to win the women’s 150 IM.

US Para swimming’s next event will be the 2023 Jimi Flowers Classic, held in Colorado Springs on June 17-18. The 2023 Citi Para Swimming Series continues next week in Singapore (April 29-May 1) before stops in Berlin May 11-14 and Limoges, France, May 26-28. It returns to North American Oct. 5-8 in Tijuana, Mexico, after the World Championships in Manchester, England.

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