Paralympic Star Benjamin Hance Breaks His Own World Record

Benjamin Hance is making waves again, and this time he's rewriting the record books he already owns.

The two-time Paralympic gold medalist broke his own world record in the S14 category 50m butterfly at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, clocking an impressive 24.17 seconds. He shaved a tenth of a second off the record he set just two months earlier at the Queensland Championship in December.

The 25-year-old from St Andrews on the Sunshine Coast didn't stop there. In his first event of the three-day meet, Hance posted a time of 25.76 in the 50m backstroke, missing his own world record by just 0.17 seconds.

What makes this even more remarkable is the company Hance keeps. He qualified third overall in the backstroke, competing in an open event against all swimmers, not just in his category. He swam alongside his training partner Isaac Cooper, the 2024 World Champion, showing the high level of talent coming out of the St Andrews swimming program.

Why This Inspires

Hance's journey from Tokyo to Paris as a Paralympic champion already proved his dedication to the sport. But continuing to push boundaries and beat his own records shows that personal growth never stops, even at the highest levels of achievement.

Coached by Ashley Delaney, Hance gets another shot at lowering his butterfly record even further in tonight's final. For athletes with intellectual disabilities competing in the S14 category, he's setting the pace for what's possible.

His performances remind us that records are meant to be broken, especially when you're competing against your own best self.