Smith Strikes Silver to Open Singapore Campaign
- dale493
- Sep 22
- 4 min read
Day One Wrap – 2025 World Para Swimming Championships
Gaby Smith (Vikings and University of Queensland) has gotten our New Zealand team’s campaign off to an excellent start on the first day of racing at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships.
The 19-year-old was the only New Zealand swimmer in action on the opening day of competition in Singapore. She contested the women’s 100m breaststroke SB9, with the race a straight final held in the evening session.
Smith swam from lane three in the final. She got away to a good start from the blocks to surface in fourth after the pullout. Lisa Kruger (Netherlands) set the early pace through the opening lap to establish a lead, with Smith in sixth at the turn. Smith upped her tempo through the third 25m to move into third place before she produced a barnstorming finish over the last quarter of the race to move into second on the wall.
Kruger (1:15.71) won the gold medal, with Smith producing a personal best (1:19.56) for the silver and Elizaveta Sidorenko (Neutral Athlete - 1:20.27) the bronze. It is the first medal Smith has won at the pinnacle international level.
Smith was delighted with her performance in the final.
“I am really proud of that race. It definitely has taken a lot to get here, it's been a while since a 100m breaststroke PB, so I'm very happy with it. My coach at home and I have been working really hard to get the pacing and technique right, so very happy that I could put on a show for my team, my family and friends, and do the race right”
Smith touched on what it feels like to become a world championship medallist.
“A world champs silver medal never hurt anyone! Very excited for it to be my first world championships medal – a long time coming!”
The whole New Zealand team erupted in celebration at the finish as they cheered the first medal of our Aquablacks' campaign in Singapore.
Swimming NZ’s Paralympic Head Coach, Simon Mayne, was thrilled with Smith’s race.
“What a great start to the first world champs of the LA 2028 cycle. On day one in our first race to achieve a personal best and silver medal. I am really proud to be collaborating with a mature athlete who really understands the process of swimming faster.”
Congratulations to Smith on her maiden medal at a World Para Swimming Championships, as well as to her coach David Heyden and wider support team.
Day Two Preview
Smith returns to the competition pool on day two for her only other event of the championships, the women’s 200m individual medley SM10. Cameron Leslie (Whangarei) will open his eighth World Para Swimming Championships campaign, competing in the men’s 100m freestyle S4.
Heats each day commence at 1pm NZST and the finals each day from 9.30pm NZST. You can find the detailed daily schedule and athlete results for our team below.
You can stay up-to-date with the action by following our social media channels for live updates and our website for wraps of the action taking place each day.
You can watch the livestream for free, live or on demand, on the Paralympics YouTube channel.
Daily Schedule
*Start times are subject to change, while finals are subject to athlete progression
Monday 22 September
Day Two Heats – from 1pm NZST
Men’s 100m freestyle S4 (Leslie)
Day Two Finals - from 9.30pm NZST
Men's 100m freestyle S4 (Leslie*)
Women's 200m individual medley SM10 (Smith)
Tuesday 23 September
Day Three Heats - from 1pm NZST
Men's 100m breaststroke SB14 (Smith-Franklin)
Day Three Finals - from 9.30pm NZST
Women's 100m breaststroke SB7 (Sayer)
Men's 100m breaststroke SB14 (Smith-Franklin*)
Wednesday 24 September
Day Four Heats - from 1pm NZST
Men's 50m backstroke S4 (Leslie)
Day Four Finals - from 9.30pm NZST
Men's 50m backstroke S4 (Leslie*)
Thursday 25 September
Day Five Heats - from 1pm NZST
Men's 50m freestyle S4 (Leslie)
Women's 50m butterfly S7 (Sayer)
Men's 200m individual medley SM14 (Smith-Franklin)
Day Five Finals - from 9.30pm NZST
Men's 50m freestyle S4 (Leslie*)
Women's 50m butterfly S7 (Sayer*)
Men's 200m individual medley SM14 (Smith-Franklin*)
Friday 26 September
Day Six Heats - from 1pm NZST
Women's 50m freestyle S7 (Sayer)
Day Six Finals - from 9.30pm NZST
Women's 50m freestyle S7 (Sayer*)
Saturday 27 September
Day Seven Heats - from 1pm NZST
Men's 100m breaststroke SB8 (Willmer)
Women's 100m freestyle S7 (Sayer)
Men's 100m butterfly S14 (Smith-Franklin)
Day Seven Final - from 9.30pm NZST
Men's 100m breaststroke SB8 (Willmer*)
Women's 100m freestyle S7 (Sayer*)
Men's 100m butterfly S14 (Smith-Franklin*)
Swimmer Results
Cameron Leslie
Men's 100m freestyle S4 (entry time: 1:24.03)
Men's 50m backstroke S4 (entry time: 43.05)
Men's 50m freestyle S4 (entry time: 37.24)
Rylee Sayer
Women's 100m breaststroke SB7 (entry time: 1:46.15)
Women's 50m butterfly S7 (entry time: 37.36)
Women's 50m freestyle S7 (entry time: 34.34)
Women's 100m freestyle S7 (entry time: 1:18.73)
Gaby Smith
Women's 100m breaststroke SB9 (result: 1:19.56 - Silver & PB)
Women's 200m individual medley SM10 (entry time: 2:38.82)
Asher Smith-Franklin
Men's 100m breaststroke SB14 (entry time: 1:10.56)
Men's 200m individual medley SM14 (entry time: 2:16.06)
Men's 100m butterfly S14 (entry time: 58.87)
Josh Willmer
Men's 100m breaststroke SB8 (entry time: 1:12.52)
Selected Team
The swimmers selected to represent New Zealand:
Name | Aquablack Number | Club | Coach |
Cameron Leslie | 272 | Whangarei | Tom Onley |
Rylee Sayer | Debutant | Matamata | Graeme Laing |
Gaby Smith | 274 | Vikings & University of Queensland | David Heyden |
Asher Smith-Franklin | Debutant | North Shore | Graham Hill |
Josh Willmer | 275 | Coast | Michael Weston |
The coaches and support staff selected to guide our Aquablacks are:
Name | Organisation | Role |
Simon Mayne | Swimming NZ | Head Coach |
Tom Onley | Whangarei | Assistant Coach |
Elliot Snedden | HPSNZ | Performance Analyst |
Amanda White | Swimming NZ | Team Manager |
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