Long, winner of 12 Paralympic gold medals, bettered her previous time, set at London 2012, by over a second as she finished in 4min 40.4sec to blow the rest of her competitors out of the water.

"I'm beyond thrilled about the world record in the 400 free," the 23-year-old Russian-born American star said.

"I haven't been able to beat my previous time for three years.

"It's reassuring knowing that all of my hard work is paying off.

"I can't stop smiling."

It proved to be a successful day for the American swimmers as rising prospect Kayla Wheeler set an American and Pan American record in the 200m free S2 category with a time of 5:40.92, and compatriot Evan Austin achieved the same feat in the men's 200 freestyle S8 classification, finishing in 1:06.28.

Elsewhere, Canadian youngster Jean-Mic Lavallière took victory in the men's 400m freestyle S7 category in 5:32.11 and teammate Nicolas Turbide led a one-two for the hosts in the 400m freestyle S13 ahead of Devin Gotell thanks to his time of 4:29.38.

Canada's Aurelie Rivard gave the home crowd something to cheer as she won the women's 400m S10 event but insisted she can go faster ©Getty Images



Canada themselves enjoyed a fruitful opening to the meet as Paralympic silver medallist Aurelie Rivard claimed the 400m S10 honours in 4:43.52, just six seconds shy of her Canadian record.

"I can go way faster than my personal best," Rivard, named Canada's female Para-swimmer of the Year earlier in the day, said.

"I need to have more confidence in myself and really go for it and not be scared of anything."

The event, held at the same venue which will stage the swimming competitions at the Toronto 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games, will feature around 200 competitors from 10 countries.

The Can Am Para-Swimming Championships also give athletes the chance to cement their place in their respective teams for the Parapan Am Games and the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships, due to be held inGlasgow from July 13 until 19. 

Competition continues tomorrow with the men's and women's 150m individual medley, 200m individual medley, 50m butterfly, 100m breaststroke and 50m freestyle races.

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