Katja Dedekind has completed her 2023 Para Swimming World Championships medal collection, retaining her title in the women's 50m freestyle S13 on a successful night for Australia in the pool.
The Dolphins finished day five of the championships in Manchester, England, with six medals added to their overall tally, including a gold for Lakeisha Patterson and bronzes for Brenden Hall, Jasmine Greenwood, Col Pearse and Rachael Watson.
Two-time Paralympian Dedekind, who had previously secured silver in the 100m freestyle S13 and bronze in the 100m backstroke S13, took gold in 27.17 seconds to successfully defend the 50m freestyle title she won in Madeira in 2022.
"I'm chuffed. That's how you come back after two days of nothing going your way," she said.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with a silver and bronze ... but that's how you come back and just have fun (with your swimming)."
Patterson had got Friday evening's session off to a golden start for Australia, topping the podium in the women's 400m freestyle S9 in four minutes, 46.30 seconds.
"I feel on top of the world, quite literally," the 24-year-old multiple Paralympic and world champion said.
"I'm just so excited, it's been a really tough year.
"Coming into these world championships it was all about trying to put the processes together.
"To be able to get here today and just put the race together and get my hand on that wall first - it's so special. That's what we train for."
Hall, with eight world championship golds under his belt in a career stretching back to 2010, turned back the clock to finish third in the men's 400m freestyle S9 in 4:15.55.
The 30-year-old Queenslander carved seven seconds off his heat time to clinch bronze.
"At this point in my career it's about taking the heats as smooth and controlled as I possibly can to get that spot in the final," he said.
"The final is all about just putting that power into it, whatever I've got left in the tank.
"I'm just happy to bring home the medal."
Hall narrowly missed out on a second medal of the evening, finishing fourth alongside Tim Hodge, Emily Beecroft and Ella Jones in the mixed 4x100m relay.
