(ATR) The 2013 International Paralympic Committee Swimming World Championships concluded Sunday in Montreal.
39 nations won medals, while Ukraine earned the most with 33 gold and 84 total medals.
43 world records were set at the event, while nearly 480 athletes took part in the first IPC Swimming World Championships in North America.
Montreal represented the first chance for many athletes to compete since the London 2012 Paralympics. Many large teams like China and Australia fielded smaller squads, while other countries elected to field both veterans and inexperienced swimmers.
"We’ve got a great balance of experienced athletes and new, young up-and-comers who are getting great international experience. All of it bodes well for our team as we look to Rio in 2016," said Team USA director of high performance Queenie Nicols told Around the Rings in an email.
"This has been a phenomenal competition, and we are pleased with the performances by Team USA athletes here at the world championships."
Despite controversy from the disqualification of American Victoria Arlen, the games continued without a hitch.
The World Anti-Doping Agency and the IPC teamed up to hold a "Say NO! to Doping" Day during the championships, showing the IPC’s commitment to clean sport.
2016 Paralympic host Brazil finished sixth in Montreal, with organizers telling the BBC they are "hoping to get even bigger crowds in Rio than in London."
Brazilian National Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons said in a statement that Brazil "hasestablished itself as one of the great powers of the sport."
"The number of medals is growing and the hope is that, in 2016, they continue coming."
The next major competitions for Paralympic swimmers are the 2015 IPC World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland and the 2015 Para-Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada.
"Athletes have entertained and amazed us across seven days where many world records have fallen, historic performances have been laid down and new champions to watch in the future have emerged," said IPC CEO Xavier Gonzalez at the closing ceremony.
"These athletes have, as ever, inspired us all and through their amazing performances have raised awareness of para-sport and para-swimming to entirely new audiences, fans and media."
Reported by Aaron Bauer
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