Dual IPC Medals for Downie

WAIS swimmer Katherine Downie has claimed two medals from the IPC Swimming World Championships in Canada with silver in the 200m IM and bronze in the 100m backstroke.

Downie -a member of two gold medal winning relay squads at the 2012 London Paralympic Games – ensured she would again return home with extra luggage after posting quality swims in the 200m IM SM10 and the 100m backstroke S10 finals.

A dead heat for second in the final of the 200m IM meant Downie shared the occasion with Canadian local Aurele Rivard after both touched the wall in an identical time of 2:33.68mins. The gold medal went to Russia’s Nina Ryabova.

In the 100m backstroke, Downie produced a quick start and was able to hold out for third place in a personal best time of 1:11.14mins, for her second medal of the campaign. Gold went to New Zealander Sophie Pascoe, whilst Ryabova continued her fine form for silver.

In a consistent meet, Downie also finished fourth in the final of the women’s 100m freestyle S10 and was sixth in the final of the women’s 50m freestyle S10.

Australia finished the IPC Championships with 11 gold, four silver and 12 bronze to be seventh overall on the medal tally.