Leslie Secures Silver in 50m Backstroke at World Para Championships

Leslie clinched a silver medal in the men’s 50m backstroke S4 event at the World Para Championships held in Singapore on March 15, 2024. The 35-year-old swimmer, a defending champion, showcased his skills by qualifying for the final with a strong heat performance, finishing second-fastest in a time of 43.50 seconds.

In the final, Leslie demonstrated his competitive spirit right from the start. He powered off the wall and maintained his characteristic high stroke rate, positioning himself well among the leaders. As the race progressed, he battled closely with Roman Zhdanov, who eventually took the gold in a championship-record time of 41.47 seconds. Leslie finished just behind, securing silver with a time of 42.54 seconds, marking his fastest performance since 2022. Arnost Petracek from the Czech Republic completed the podium, earning bronze with a time of 44.13 seconds.

Reflecting on his performance, Leslie expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, especially after a challenging experience at the Paris Paralympics. “This year has been all about redemption from Paris,” he noted. He acknowledged his disappointment with his previous performance, particularly in the 50m backstroke, which was his final race in Paris. “I know I’m a better swimmer than what I did there,” he added.

Leslie emphasized the significance of this latest achievement in moving past his previous struggles. “I feel like I’ve redeemed myself in that race and can move forward, and probably let go of a bit of baggage from last year, which is nice,” he stated.

Competing in his eighth world championships, Leslie highlighted the improvement he made between the heats and the final. “I’m really stoked with that outcome. Changing a whole second from heat to final is really good in the 50m back and shows the insights we got from our analysis,” he explained. He credited his training regimen and the adjustments made in preparation for the event, reflecting on the execution of their strategies in both training and competition.

This silver medal not only marks a triumphant return for Leslie but also reinforces his status as a formidable competitor in the world of para swimming, setting the stage for future successes in upcoming competitions.