Benny Hance Breaks Two World Records in Three Days

Benny Hance started his Australian Open Championship campaign with a world record and ended it the exact same way three days later.

The two-time Paralympic gold medalist blazed through the 50-meter freestyle in 22.96 seconds at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, setting his second Virtus World Record of the competition. Virtus records are specifically for intellectually impaired athletes competing in the S14 category.

Just three days earlier, Hance had kicked off the meet by breaking his own 50-meter butterfly record with a time of 24.17 seconds. He'd shaved a tenth of a second off the mark he set just weeks earlier in December 2024.

The 25-year-old from St Andrews on the Sunshine Coast trains under coach Ash Delaney, an Olympian who clearly knows how to channel Hance's explosive energy. That energy isn't just in the pool—Hance is known as one of Australia's most charismatic and expressive swimmers, bringing personality and joy to every competition.

Hance also made history in the opening event by becoming the first Para swimmer to compete in the open men's 50-meter backstroke. He clocked nearly identical times in the heat and final, proving his consistency under pressure.

Why This Inspires

Hance's back-to-back record performances show what happens when natural talent meets pure enthusiasm. His coach and teammates describe him as genuinely engaging, someone who lifts the entire atmosphere at competitions.

He's also the Para world record holder in the 100-meter backstroke, building a legacy that extends far beyond just two golden performances in Tokyo and Paris. At 25, Hance is in his prime and clearly just getting started.

His performances at the Australian Open Championships weren't just about times on a scoreboard. They were about showing young athletes with intellectual impairments that world-class achievement is absolutely within reach.

Watching Hance celebrate alongside fellow Paralympic gold medalist Rowan Crothers after the freestyle final captured everything beautiful about competitive swimming: pure joy, mutual respect, and the thrill of pushing human limits together.