Italian Para swimming superstar Simone Barlaam claimed his third gold medal at the World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore, winning a hard-fought final in the men\u2019s 400m freestyle S9 on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For most of the four-minute race, the 25-year-old from Milan was neck and neck with Spain\u2019s 2019 world champion Jacobo Garrido Brun, who had the fastest times from the third to the seventh turn. In the final 50m stretch, however, Barlaam made one last push and managed to edge his opponent, claiming the victory in 4:13.33 \u2013 three tenths of a second faster than Garrido Brun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was an amazing race,\u201d said Barlaam, who has made it three titles in as many days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn the 400m, for me, anything could happen. I could be in last or in first place, and I was surprised by the result.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After hugging Garrido Brun poolside, congratulating him on a good battle, Barlaam said he had not been fully aware of how close his opponent in lane six had been.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOn the way back, I\u2019m breathing on my left side (away from the pool) so being in lane one, I couldn\u2019t really see. But when I was turning at the 350 (mark) I saw that it was close,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cComing back, I saw my family and my coach in the stands, waving, was like \u2018f*** it, let\u2019s bring it home\u2019, and it hurts so much but I brought it home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Barlaam won three gold medals but had to settle for a silver in the 400m freestyle, beaten by home favourite Ugo Didier from France after another nail-biter of a final. This time, Barlaam refused to let go of the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI went back to my old strategy in comparison to Paris and it was good,\u201d Barlaam said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just like at last year\u2019s Games, Australia\u2019s world record-holder Brenden Hall clinched the bronze medal. The 32-year-old veteran, who won the world title in the event in 2010, touched the wall 1.36 seconds after the winner as Paralympic champion Didier, who had been in a podium position for much of the race, finished fourth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n