British trio awarded Para Swimming World Series titles

Alice Tai, Olivia Newman-Baronius and William Ellard claimed a Para Swimming World Series title apiece following a successful year in 2024.

It was a particularly special 12 months for Tai, who was named the overall women’s champion for the second time in her career – the first time she’s claimed the award since 2019.

Swimming in both the Berlin and Lignano events, Tai accumulated 4184 points to edge out compatriot Poppy Maskill (4017 points) to lead a British one-two in the female rankings.

The pair went on to enjoy a special year in the pool with multiple golds each at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games before being recognised with a place on the King’s New Year’s Honours List for 2025.

The World Series – made up of multiple events in numerous countries across the year – also gives out awards for the best high-support needs (classes S/SB 1-3) female and male athletes, the best female and male junior athletes and the best National Paralympic Committee (NPC) throughout their events in each calendar year.

That’s where Great Britain had even more success with Ellard backing up his second place in the overall rankings by defending his World Series title in the Junior Male category.

The BBC Young Sport’s Personality nominee finished in first place with 4027 points, followed closely in second by Welsh swimmer Rhys Darbey – who capped off his two medals in Paris with second spot.

Olivia Newman-Baronius made it a double for Great Britain in the junior categories, coming out on top in the junior women’s rankings.

Newman-Baronius only made her GB debut at the Lignano World Series event back in March, taking three golds and a bronze in Italy. Those medals kicked off an incredible senior debut year and set the Maxwell swimmer on her way to beating Japan’s Aira Kinoshita and France’s Assya Maurin Espiau to the title. The British teenager scored 3948 points to Kinoshita’s 3858 and Espiau’s 3729.

Ellie Challis also performed well across the World Series events, taking second spot in the female high-support needs category.

These results helped Great Britain mount a challenge in the race for the top National Paralympic Committee against defending champions Brazil.

Unfortunately, though Brazil held on to their crown with just 34 points splitting the two nations with Brazil’s 16,086 points to Britain’s 16,052. The pair were comfortably clear of third place Spain who finished with a total of 15,107.

You can find a full list of all past winners of the Para Swimming World Series here, while details about the 2025 Para Swimming World Series calendar can be found via this link.