Para swimmers Shelby Newkirk, Nicholas Bennett win Canada's 1st gold medals at worlds

A pair of Canadians wasted little time gaining notice at the Para swimming world championships, winning gold medals on the opening day of competition in Manchester, England on Monday.

Shelby Newkirk of Saskatoon topped the women's field of eight in the 100-metre backstroke S6 event. She clocked one minute 20.62 seconds for her second straight world title and lowered her 1:20.96 championship record from a year ago.

Nicholas Bennett of Parksville, B.C., touched the wall 4-100ths of a second quicker than Great Britain's William Ellard to take the men's 200 freestyle S14 for his first career world gold. Bennett's time was 1:54.75 compared to 1:54.79 for Ellard.

Newkirk prepared for worlds winning three gold and bronze at a Winnipeg competition in early July.

WATCH | Newkirk boasts back-to-back backstroke world titles:

"It's amazing to defend this [world] title," the 27-year-old, who qualified fourth for Monday's final, said in a Twitter post. "I knew I was going to have to fight for it. After the turn [with 50 metres left] I tried to go for it.

"I knew I was happy with the time … with the swim. At the same time, I couldn't see the [scoreboard]. I noticed Mike Thompson, our head coach, having a happy dance so I figured I must have done well."

China's Yuyan Jiang captured silver (1:21.18) and Anna Hontar bronze (1:22.34).

Newkirk trains up to 13 times a week on land and in the water and recently told Saskatoon radio station AM 650 CKOM she runs two businesses — Crafty Prairie Girl and Accessible Life — while coaching with the Saskatoon Lasers Swim Club.

A 2002 Paralympian, Newkirk has her sights on competing next summer at the Summer Games in Paris.

Shortly after she began swimming in 2012, Newkirk developed generalized