'Done the mic drop': Paralympic champion's cheeky message for rivals after win
Paralympic champion Ben Hance cheekily laid out the hierarchy for his rivals after flirting with a world-record time in the men's 100m backstroke multi-class final at the Australian trials.
Just hours after breaking his own world record in the heats with a time of 56.35 seconds, Hance gave a second glimpse into what rivals should expect at September's para-swimming world championships.
A qualifying mark of 1:01.08 was easily beaten by the Australian star in Adelaide as he touched the wall in 56.62 to win the final on Friday evening.
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His closest rival, Ricky Betar, came in at 1:00.28 to also qualify for the world titles in the 100m backstroke.
Hance's bid to claim four consecutive Paralympic gold medals has never been more clear for his rivals, especially those he faced on Friday evening.
"It was a hell of a meet," Hance told Nine post-race.
"That race was perfect. I looked at the board, switched it off [as I dived into the pool]."
Hance then turned to his rival Declan Budd, who finished fourth in the heat.
"I engraved my name into the gold medal, sorry boys," Hance told Budd.
"Mate, the 100 back is mine. You can have the 100 fly."
Betar was Hance's next target.
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Ben Hance speaks to Nine after winning the 100m backstroke final. Nine
"You can go 200 IM [individual medley]," Hance, 24, said as he shook Betar's hand.
"Australia get all the golds.
"But the 100m back is mine, sorry boys."
Hance then walked away from the interview.
"There you go. We have done the hierarchy. We are now out. Done the mic drop and we are off," Giaan Rooney said.
Hance was on Friday night among the athletes named on the Dolphins team for the world para-swimming championships, taking place in Singapore from September 21-27.
Dolphins squad for world para-swimming championships
Emily Beecroft, Ricky Betar, Lewis Bishop, Rackley Hibiscus, Declan Budd, Rowan Crothers, Thomas Gallagher, Jasmine Greenwood, Brenden Hall, Benjamin Hance, Timothy Hodge, Jack Ireland, Ahmed Kelly, Alexa Leary, Paige Leonhardt, Jake Michel, Chloe Osborn, Grant Patterson, Lakeisha Patterson Col Pearse, Alex Saffy, Callum Simpson, Alexander Tuckfield, Harrison Vig, Rachael Watson, Poppy Wilson