{"id":623023,"date":"2025-09-24T09:16:41","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T16:16:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=623023"},"modified":"2025-09-24T09:16:41","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T16:16:41","slug":"world-para-swimming-championships-day-4-katie-kubiak-breaks-world-record-gia-pergolini-wins-gold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/world-para-swimming-championships-day-4-katie-kubiak-breaks-world-record-gia-pergolini-wins-gold\/","title":{"rendered":"World Para Swimming Championships Day 4: Katie Kubiak Breaks World Record; Gia Pergolini Wins Gold"},"content":{"rendered":"

Katie Kubiak<\/strong> had already proved herself at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships, but her Day 4 performance exceeded all expectations in Singapore.<\/p>\n

The U.S. swimmer from Wisconsin broke the 50 backstroke S4 record – twice on Day 4.<\/p>\n

Kubiak broke the world record twice in a single day, first lowering the mark to 44.13 in prelims before shaving off nearly two seconds to reset it again in the finals to clock in a win with 42.66. The rising star has broken three world records at the meet, medaled in every event she has contested and amassed a total of five podium appearances to date.<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, I\u2019m just so proud of both of my swims,\u201d Kubiak said. \u201cIt\u2019s really a testament to the hard work that my coach, Jeff Rodriguez<\/strong> and I have been putting in this season. I\u2019m really just happy to see it paying off in the postseason.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cForty-two tonight was my best time so super excited to see that on the board. The atmosphere in the arena and seeing my teammates cheer me on was the push I needed tonight. Having my debut in Singapore is so special and can\u2019t wait to see what we have in story for the rest of the week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paralympic champion Gia Pergolini<\/strong> returned to the top of the podium in the women\u2019s 100 backstroke S13, reclaiming the world title she first won in 2022 in the same event that secured her back-to-back Paralympic golds.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m in pain all over but you just got to keep pushing through it,\u201d Pergolini said. \u201cIt\u2019s really nice being back here after not going to Manchester [world championships]. Being back at worlds is so much fun seeing everyone and hearing my teammates cheer me on is always so special.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI might not feel great at warmup or may feel amazing but when I\u2019m racing, I just let me body take over and go into autopilot. It always knows what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eighteen-time Paralympic champion Jessica Long<\/strong> reached another milestone in Singapore, earning her 55th career world championship podium with a bronze medal in the women\u2019s 100 freestyle S8. The result reflects Long\u2019s remarkable longevity, building on a career that began with her first world championship in 2006.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think my younger self would just be so proud that I\u2019m still doing this,\u201d Long said. \u201cThis is unexpected, there were so many other things that took priority this year. It\u2019s always an honor to represent Team USA and it\u2019s really sweet to come home with a medal too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s wild to think that I\u2019m coming to the end of this race [of my career]. I never wanted to just be good, I\u2019ve always wanted to be a legend in Para sport. I think my medals speak for themselves, but I also want to be known for changing the sport and making it better.\u201d<\/p>\n

With three Para championship medals already to her name in Singapore, Leanne Smith<\/strong> added a second individual silver in the women\u2019s 50m backstroke S3. After battling injuries in recent years, Smith is thrilled to be back contesting events she\u2019s been sidelined from in the past few international meets.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday was just about coming back to the pool as it\u2019s a race I haven\u2019t been able to compete in the last few years due to injury,\u201d said Smith. \u201cI\u2019ve been working on it and just trying to come in, have fun and see what we can do. It\u2019s important to take it year by year and stay grounded in the moment that we\u2019re in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mallory Weggemann<\/strong> edged out Julia Gaffney in the women\u2019s 100 backstroke S7 to claim bronze and add to her career medal haul.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was really hopeful for what this competition could be,\u201d said Weggemann. \u201cI\u2019ve been working really hard while doing it differently \u2013 putting the pieces together and learning to trust myself in the process. I was super hopeful to podium tonight, but going in with limited expectations so I can just have fun seeing where I\u2019m at too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Para Swimming Day 4 Winners<\/h2>\n