Katie Kubiak and Leanne Smith’s world records, American records highlight start of 2026 Para Pan Pacific Championships

WALNUT, Calif. – Katie Kubiak (Cedarburg, Wisconsin) stole the show in record-setting fashion on day one of the 2026 Para Pan Pacific Championships, setting a new world and three American marks across her events on Friday at Mt. San Antonio College. 

Kubiak opened the day by breaking the American record in the women’s S5 100-meter freestyle with a time of 1:16.10, lowering the previous mark by 17 seconds. Kubiak kept the momentum high, clocking a world-record performance in the women’s S5 50 butterfly, touching the wall in 37.21 to take nearly one second off the previous record.  

“Honestly, I’m just so overwhelmed in the best way possible,” said Kubiak. “I came in today knowing the schedule was going to be super tough, and I’ve been physically and mentally preparing for that for a few months. I was not expecting the world record today, and to break it was honestly incredible. It was a testament to all the effort that has gone into this season. So much has changed, and I’m just so happy to see it paying off.” 

Kubiak completed the record-setting trifecta in the women’s S5 200 freestyle, clocking 2:48.03 to break the American record by 22 seconds in the prelims, and improved upon her American record with a time of 2:43.86 in the finals.  

 
Two-time Paralympian Leanne Smith (Salem, Massachusetts) opened the finals session with a world record for Team USA, swimming 1:26.17 in the women’s S3 100 freestyle. Smith would find the podium in her next race with a third-place finish in the women’s SM4 150 individual medley with a time of 3:18.65. 

“Breaking the world record was a little bit of a surprise,” Smith said. “I’ve been building toward it over the past couple of meets, and this was my first time swimming outside, so the environment was definitely a challenge. Being able to work through that and still break my own world record was a huge relief. It gave me a lot more confidence going into the next two years to let things play out and not get too much inside my head as we approach the Games. I’m looking forward to the rest of the weekend, racing a little more and continuing toward LA.”

Three-time Paralympian Brad Snyder (St. Petersburg, Florida) returned to international pool for the first time 2016, teaming up with Paralympian Evan Wilkerson (Wake Forest, North Carolina), Paralympian Olivia Chambers (Little Rock, Arkansas) and Paralympian Grace Nuhfer (Indianapolis, Indiana) in the mixed 4x100-meter medley relay (49 points). The quartet set a new American record with a time of 4:32.68. 
 
Two-time Paralympian Lawrence Sapp (Waldorf, Maryland) joined the record-breaking performances in the men’s S14 200 freestyle. His time of 2:03.24 established a new American record, lowering the previous mark by more than one second. He would improve upon his incredible performance in the finals, dropping his own American record to 2:02.85. 
 
Piper Sadowski (Grand Rapids, Michigan) continues to own the women’s S14 200 freestyle American record, lowering her own mark to 2:21.59 in this morning prelims. 
 

Hosted by U.S. Paralympics Swimming for the first time since 2014, the international championship features 10 nations and 170 athletes for three days of racing. The competition provides Team USA another opportunity to race on home soil less than two years before the LA28 Paralympic Games. 

Para Pan Pacific Championships continue through Sunday, with preliminary heats beginning at 9:30 a.m. PT and finals at 5:30 p.m. PT. All events are contested in multiclass format, with results determined using the World Para Swimming points system to create an equitable field of play across classifications. 
  
For complete results from day one, visit USParaSwimming.org.   
  
For interview and photo requests, please contact Ike.Hartman@usopc.org.