India's paralympic swimmer Sharath Gayakwad finished third in the 100m Butterfly (S8 category) at the IDM Berlin 2014 swimming competition here Thursday, clocking 1:09.31 seconds that was well outside his personal best of 1:07.12 that he set at the London Paralympics in 2012.
Gayakwad was beaten to the podium by Dane Niels Korfitz Mortensen and Briton Oliver Hynd, who both finished their race in 1:07.74 and 1:08.34, respectively.
Speedo's star athlete Gayakwad, who is also India's sole representative at the International German Championships, will be participating in six more events including the 50m, 100m and 400m Freestyle, the 100m Backstroke and the 100m Breaststroke besides the 200m Individual Medley.
Gayakwad, delighted to be back in international competition, is looking forward to using this championship as a platform to qualify for the Asia Para Championships.