Maxwell, Dorris and Jibb reach podium on second-last day at para swimming worlds

SINGAPORE — Reid Maxwell reached the podium for the first time at a world championships while fellow Canadians Danielle Dorris and Mary Jibb picked up their third medals Friday at the world para swimming championships.

Maxwell swam to silver in the men’s S8 200-metre individual medley in a Canadian record time of two minutes 26.72 seconds.

Australia’s Callum Simpson won gold in 2:25.49 while Dimosthenis Michalentzakis of Greece took bronze in 2:27.24.

The 18-year-old Maxwell, from St. Albert, Alta., is making his world championship debut after claiming silver in the men’s 400 freestyle at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

Maxwell finished 10th in the 200 IM in Paris and wasn’t expecting to end the race on the podium.

“To be honest, I wasn’t expecting a medal or the time I got,” said Maxwell, who became the first Canadian man in history to capture a world championships medal in an S8 event.

“It was not really an event I was targeting here this week. That’s why it’s kind of shocking. But I sure can’t complain.”

Dorris followed with a bronze in the women’s S7 50 freestyle and Jibb finished third in the women’s S9 100 backstroke.

Dorris swam a season-best 33.67 seconds to edge Britain’s Iona Winnifrith by 10-hundredths of a second.

Mallory Weggemann of the United Stated claimed her third career 50 free world title in 32.58, followed by Sara Vargas Blanco of Colombia (32.99).

“I did have an idea how close it was,” Dorris said. “I could see Sara passing me and I thought ‘OK, I just have to keep up with her and I’ll get a medal.’ But then I saw Iona beside me and really catching me, and I thought ‘I might not have this.’

“I really pushed in the last 15. When I looked at the board, I was ecstatic. I think this is my favourite medal of the week just because I had actually worked so hard for this event.”

The 23-year-old Dorris, from Moncton, N.B., now has nine world championship medals after earning a gold, a silver and a bronze in Singapore.

Jibb posted her fifth personal best in as many finals this week, finishing in 1:10.63 behind Brazil’s Mariana Ribeiro (1:08.79) and Spain’s Núria Marquès Soto (1:09.01), the Paris runner-up and 2022 world champion.

The 18-year-old Jibb, from Muskoka, Ont., has a gold and two bronze in her world-championship debut. She is the youngest Canadian swimmer to win at least three in a single world championships since Aurélie Rivard captured five at age 17 in 2013.

“That’s pretty incredible. I have Jy to thank for this,” said Jibb, who moved six months ago to train with coach Jy Lawrence in Surrey, B.C. “The last six months have been amazing. Just believing in myself and believing in the process. This is all a result of that.”

Canada’s second straight three-medal day at the para swimming worlds gives it 11 (two gold, two silver, seven bronze) heading into the final day of competition.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 26, 2025.