{"id":652661,"date":"2026-08-28T23:36:49","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T06:36:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=652661"},"modified":"2026-08-28T23:36:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-29T06:36:49","slug":"katie-kubiak-leanne-smith-open-para-pan-pacs-with-world-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/katie-kubiak-leanne-smith-open-para-pan-pacs-with-world-records\/","title":{"rendered":"Katie Kubiak, Leanne Smith Open Para Pan Pacs with World Records"},"content":{"rendered":"

Katie Kubiak, Leanne Smith Open Para Pan Pacs with World Records<\/strong><\/p>\n

Americans Katie Kubiak<\/strong> and Leanne Smith<\/strong> set World records on Night 1 of the Para Pan Pacific Championships.<\/p>\n

Kubiak set three American records and a world mark to start the meet at Mt. San Antonio College. She went 1:16.10 in the S5 100 freestyle in prelims to down the American mark and was a touch slower at night in 1:16.36.<\/p>\n

The 23-year-old from Wisconsin went 37.21 in prelims of the S5 50 butterfly, which destroyed the world record of Lu Dong<\/strong> set at the Paris Paralympics at 38.17. (Kubiak also holds the S4 50 fly record at 38.96.) Kubiak went 38.42 at night.<\/p>\n

She also lowered the American mark in the 200 free to 2:48.03 in prelims and 2:43.86 in finals.<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, I\u2019m just so overwhelmed in the best way possible,\u201d Kubiak said. \u201cI came in today knowing the schedule was going to be super tough, and I\u2019ve been physically and mentally preparing for that for a few months. I was not expecting the world record today, and to break it was honestly incredible. It was a testament to all the effort that has gone into this season. So much has changed, and I\u2019m just so happy to see it paying off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
Para Pan Pacific Championships Scheduled for the Weekend (Psych Sheets)<\/a><\/li>\n
Meet Results Page<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Smith went 1:26.17 in the S3 100 free to improve her world record. The two-time Paralympian had gone 1:26.76 at Nationals in Indianapolis in 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cBreaking the record was a little bit of a surprise,\u201d Smith said. \u201cI\u2019ve been building toward it over the past couple of meets, and this was my first time swimming outside, so the environment was definitely a challenge. Being able to work through that and still break my own world record was a huge relief. It gave me a lot more confidence going into the next two years to let things play out and not get too much inside my head as we approach the Games. I\u2019m looking forward to the rest of the weekend, racing a little more and continuing toward LA.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both Smith and Kubiak received $10,000 bonuses funded by Stronger Than You Think, the foundation set up by Paralympian Ali Truwit.<\/strong> (Truwit is taking part in the meet, having finished third in the S10 100 free Friday.)<\/p>\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
A post shared by Stronger Than You Think Foundation (@strongerthanyouthink)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n