Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) supported swimmers delivered a series of standout performances at the 2026 Para Pan Pacific Championships, with two Oceania records highlighting Australia's 33-medal campaign in California.
Nineteen QAS-supported swimmers were selected for Australia’s 37-member team for the three-day championships in Walnut from 28–30 August, with the Dolphins collecting 10 gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze medals as preparations continue towards the LA 2028 Paralympic Games.
One of the standout moments came from Madeleine McTernan, Jack Ireland, Ruby Storm and Ben Hance, with the all-QAS quartet racing to gold and an Oceania record in the mixed S14 4x100m freestyle relay.
Hance continued his dominance in the men’s 100m backstroke, claiming gold for the fifth consecutive year. The Sunshine Coast S14 swimmer clocked a season-best 56.26, just 0.27 seconds outside his own world record.
McTernan added another record-breaking performance, setting an Oceania record in the women’s 200m freestyle on her way to silver.
Storm completed a medal set of her own, adding silver in the mixed S14 4x100m medley relay and bronze in the women’s 200m freestyle to her mixed freestyle relay gold.
Ireland also reached the individual podium, adding bronze in the men’s 200m freestyle to his relay gold.
Queensland’s depth was on full display in the men’s 400m freestyle, where QAS-supported swimmers completed a clean sweep of the podium.
Harrison Vig claimed gold, Callum Simpson took silver and Brendan Hall secured bronze.
Simpson enjoyed a strong meet across multiple events, adding bronze in the men’s 100m freestyle and featuring in two gold-medal relays.
Lakeisha Patterson also delivered across the championships, claiming gold in the women’s 400m freestyle and bronze in the 100m freestyle before combining with Simpson to help Australia win the mixed 34-point 4x100m freestyle relay.
The medals continued across the QAS contingent, with Tom Gallagher collecting silver in both the men’s 100m and 50m freestyle, while Grant Patterson earned silver in the men’s 150m individual medley and bronze in the 50m breaststroke.
Emily Beecroft featured in two gold-medal relays, while Kael Thompson added silver in the mixed S14 4x100m freestyle relay and bronze in the men’s 100m butterfly.
Jake Michel also secured silver in the men’s 100m breaststroke, while Ricky Betar claimed bronze in the men’s 200m individual medley.
The Para Pan Pacific Championships used a multi-class racing format similar to the Australian Trials, providing a different racing challenge to the Para World Championships and Paralympic Games, where athletes compete within their individual sport classifications.
For the Dolphins, the meet provided an important opportunity to test themselves against international competition and gather valuable performance data and racing experience two years out from LA 2028.
Dolphins head coach Mel Tantrum said the championships provided an important measure of progress for the 37-member team.
“Our team of 37 Dolphins has approached this meet with energy and purpose. Just two years out from the LA Games, this meet provides an important opportunity to evaluate performance data, gain racing experience and build momentum for the road ahead,” Tantrum said.
The conditions also provided an important test, with high ambient temperatures and pool temperatures regularly exceeding 28 degrees.
“Importantly, this meet has tested our heat procedures. The ambient temperature was extreme, and the pool temperature was regularly above 28 degrees. To have our athletes back up so well—we had 37 swims in the final morning’s heats and 35 swims that night—is a credit to everyone,” Tantrum said.
With two Oceania records, a QAS podium sweep and valuable international racing experience secured in California, the Para Pan Pacific Championships added another important chapter in the Dolphins’ build towards LA 2028.
All QAS-supported swimmer results:
GOLD
• Lakeisha Patterson – Women’s 400m freestyle
• Harrison Vig – Men’s 400m freestyle
• Ben Hance – Men’s 100m backstroke – 56.26
• Madeleine McTernan, Jack Ireland, Ruby Storm and Ben Hance – Mixed S14 4x100m freestyle relay – Oceania Record
• Callum Simpson, Keira Stephens and Emily Beecroft – Mixed 34-point 4x100m medley relay, with Jesse Aungles
• Lakeisha Patterson and Callum Simpson – Mixed 34-point 4x100m freestyle relay, with Rowan Crothers and Chloe Osborn
• Emily Beecroft and Grant Patterson – Mixed 20-point 4x50m medley relay, with Ahmed Kelly and Amelie Springett-Kelly
SILVER
• Tom Gallagher – Men’s 100m freestyle
• Madeleine McTernan – Women’s 200m freestyle – Oceania Record
• Grant Patterson – Men’s 150m individual medley
• Callum Simpson – Men’s 400m freestyle
• Jake Michel – Men’s 100m breaststroke
• Ruby Storm – Mixed S14 4x100m medley relay, with Declan Budd, Ricky Betar and Montana Atkinson
• Kael Thompson – Mixed S14 4x100m freestyle relay, with Declan Budd, Darren Sisman and Stephanie Bruzzese
• Tom Gallagher and Emily Beecroft – Mixed 34-point 4x100m freestyle relay, with Tim Hodge and Amelie Springett-Kelly
• Tom Gallagher – Men’s 50m freestyle
BRONZE
• Lakeisha Patterson – Women’s 100m freestyle
• Callum Simpson – Men’s 100m freestyle
• Ruby Storm – Women’s 200m freestyle
• Jack Ireland – Men’s 200m freestyle
• Brendan Hall – Men’s 400m freestyle
• Grant Patterson – Men’s 50m breaststroke
• Ricky Betar – Men’s 200m individual medley
• Kael Thompson – Men’s 100m butterfly
