World Junior Swimming Championships (Grgic Minakov Pallister Papastamos)
Budapest 2019
The 2019 World Junior Championships are history, packed stands at the Duna Arena in the Hungarian capital proof once more that swimming is best hosted where swimming is loved and appreciated and understood.
The outstanding swims that made an impact on the World Top 10 rankings came from Franko Grgic, Apostolos Papastamos and Lani Pallister (Andrei Minakov having already made that club before Budapest), while new members of the club of those who claimed at least two golds in solo events include Gretchen Walsh, Jade Hannah, Evgeniia Chikunova, Torri Huske, Luca Urlando, Thomas Ceccon and Vladislav Gerasimenko.
Perspective on all those predictions running wild on social media and the frenzied edge of fan world:
- Of the 154 swimmers who claimed Word junior titles in solo races between 2006 and 2017, nine went on to finish top three/stand on an Olympic podium in an individual event (to date: the 2017 wave has not yet had its Olympic chance, for the most part, the 2006-2015 count 9 out of 131).
The sums comes down to five boys to men and four girls to women and they don’t add up to criticism of any of the 131 or 154 nor any who raced in Budapest over the past six days of extremely competitive swimming.
Rather, the conversion numbers remind us just how hard, long and winding the road from junior to senior waters is. Such journeys includes complexities such as the fast maturity of some athletes at a young age, the environment in which athletes find themselves in their youth, the vast difference in strengths of national programs and emphasis and on and funding of youth sport. They extend to health and the vagaries of ‘fate’, too.
Basically, there are no guarantees. Among those who did convert are Mireia Belmonte, Anastasia Zueva (now Fesikova), Caitlin Leverenz, Tyler Clary, Mack Horton, Kyle Chalmers and Anton Chupkov and Kosuke Hagino, between 2006 and 2015.
Conversion also includes Aurelie Muller, the French swimmer who might have been an Olympic marathon medallist but for a DQ at Rio 2016 that was at least as much the fault of those who set the course up as it was the swimmer’s. Conversion also means relays but our count above is for solo events. The class of 2017 includes the likes of Kristof Milak, Taylor Ruck and Regan Smith.
Ruta Meilutyte, a four-times champion in 2013, does not make the count because she fits a rare pattern: she was an Olympic champion at 15 before she took the junior world by storm.
Katie Ledecky was 15 and a London 2012 champion whose Olympic debut announced her arrival before she was widely known as ‘one to watch’. Ledecky never raced as a junior. Perhaps there would have been little point, her goals set senior from relative “go”.
In another lane, Adam Peaty is a thumping example among the many who were not in the frame in there teenage years. As Peaty opus it “I didn’t take any of it seriously until I was 17”.
Caeleb Dressel – Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant
Bronte Campbell – Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant
Then there are those who put nail their junior potential to the mast and then take time out to grow and think and understand their heart and gut: 2013 breaker, Caeleb Dressel, beyond his own long and winding road, did get to Rio 2016 and made the podium for relays, as did many others among those 154 junior champions, including the likes of Bronte Campbell and Cameron McEvoy.
Along the same trail of talent, we find Minna Atherton, Viktoriya Gunes and Rikako Ikee (currently receiving treatment for leukaemia), each of their stories and challenges unique to them.
The potential of all of the above to make the ultimate podium heading into Olympic year 2020 – and then Paris 2o24 and Los Angeles 2028 – is as solid as the Tokyo skyline but less certain than the fresh blooming of Japan’s cherry blossom come spring and trials season.
In Budapest this past week, Papastamos and his 4:11 win over 400m medley ahead of a 4:12 from the swiftest 16-year-old ever, Ilia Borodin, of Russia, came closest to imagining a shot at the Tokyo 2020 podium.
Right up there with them was Grgic and his 14:46 over 30 laps, followed by a statement from the Croatian schoolboy that a 14:40 was in his sights but a cautionary break from heavy training earlier in the summer had left him shy of that but still with the fastest 1500m for a 16-year-old in history.
Shy of adulthood, Grgic, like Michael Phelps (who had no global junior event to attend in his day but, lies Ledecky and Bruce Gemmell, probably would not have made that choice with Bob Bowman anyway) and others down the decades before him, shows a maturity beyond his years in terms of the understanding and feel for the world they’ve married their passion, drive and ambition too from an early age.
Andrei Minakov, of Russia, was awarded the FINA best boy prize, his victories in the 100m freestyle and butterfly finals buoyed by gold in the 4x100m medley and silvers in the men’s 4x100m free and both mixed relays for a six-medal tally.
Lani Pallister also claimed three gold and three silvers for best girl trophy and became the second swimmer in the history of the junior showcase back to 2006 to complete the 400, 800, 1500m free treble. The Australian also matched Russian Elena Sokolova‘s 2008 achievement in another aspect: each victory established a championship record.
Lani Pallister – Photo Courtesy: Swimming Australia/Delly Carr
Dominant USA
The dominant team was, as it is in senior waters, the United States, the top tally 18 gold, 10 silver, 9 bronze, for 37 medals in all. Russia was closest – 7-11-4-22; the top 3 completed by Australia – 4-5-4-13. Italy, 3-2-7-12, and Canada, 2-5-5-12 set the five most-medalled nations apart from the rest.
For most who raced in Budapest, Paris 2024 and beyond is their Olympic horizon. Here’s how it panned out:
Andrei Minakov – Photo Courtesy: FINA / Budapest 2019
The Daily Wrap of Finals:
The World Junior Records
- Franko Grgic 14:46.09 World Junior Record Makes Croatian Ace Fastest 16-Year-Old Over 1500m In History
- Russia Ends United States’ Perfect Streak in Relays at World Juniors With World Junior Record in Men’s 4×100 Medley Relay
- Apostolos Papastamos Smashes World Junior Record in 400 IM With 4:11 in Budapest
- Carson Foster Splits 1:46.1 as United States Obliterates World Junior Record in 4×200 Free
- Gretchen Walsh Anchors United States’ Mixed 4×100 Free Relay World Junior Record in Budapest
- Will Grant, Josh Matheny Propel United States to Mixed Medley Relay World Junior Record in Budapest
- United States Men Crush World Junior Record in 4×100 Free Relay With Stellar Splits From Urlando, Chaney
- Alba Vazquez Ruiz Breaks World Junior Record in 400 IM in Thrilling Final
Among other Noteworthy stories
- Lani Pallister and Janelle Elford– The race. The family tradition
- Josh Matheny’s fast ascension
The Podiums
Boys
| 50m freestyle | Vladyslav Bukhov Ukraine |
22.13 | David Curtiss United States |
22.14 | Adam Chaney United States |
22.40 |
| 100m freestyle | Andrei Minakov Russia |
48.73 | Joshua Liendo Canada |
49.17 | Robin Hanson Sweden |
49.25 |
| 200m freestyle | Luca Urlando United States |
1:46.97 | Robin Hanson Sweden |
1:47.03 | Murilo Sartori Brazil |
1:47.39 |
| 400m freestyle | Gábor Zombori Hungary |
3:46.06 CR |
Thomas Neill Australia |
3:46.27 | Aleksandr Egorov Russia |
3:47.36 |
| 800m freestyle | Franko Grgić Croatia |
7:45.92 | Ilia Sibirtsev Russia |
7:48.05 | Thomas Neill Australia |
7:48.65 |
| 1500 m freestyle | Franko Grgić Croatia |
14:46.09 WJR, CR | Thomas Neill Australia |
14:59.19 | Ilia Sibirtsev Russia |
15:05.17 |
| 50 m backstroke | Jan Čejka Czech Republic |
25.08 | Wyatt Davis United States |
25.23 | Thomas Ceccon Italy |
25.35 |
| 100 m backstroke | Thomas Ceccon Italy |
53.46 CR |
Nikolay Zuev Russia |
53.59 | Wyatt Davis United States |
54.14 |
| 200 m backstroke | Wyatt Davis United States |
1:58.18 | Carson Foster United States |
1:58.47 | Mewen Tomac France |
1:58.71 |
| 50 m breaststroke | Vladislav Gerasimenko Russia |
27.58 | Gabe Mastromatteo Canada |
27.73 | Archie Goodburn Great Britain |
27.83 |
| 100 m breaststroke | Vladislav Gerasimenko Russia |
59.97 | Josh Matheny United States |
1:00.17 | Kevin Houseman United States |
1:00.55 |
| 200 m breaststroke | Josh Matheny United States |
2:09.40 CR |
Shoma Sato Japan |
2:09.56 | Yuta Arai Japan |
2:10.84 |
| 50 m butterfly | Thomas Ceccon Italy |
23.37 | Andrei Minakov Russia |
23.39 | Josif Miladinov Bulgaria |
23.48 |
| 100 m butterfly | Andrei
Minakov |
51.25 | Federico Burdisso Italy |
51.83 | Egor Pavlov Russia |
51.90 |
| 200 m butterfly | Luca Urlando United States |
1:55.02 | Tomoru Honda Japan |
1:55.31 | Federico Burdisso Italy |
1:55.39 |
| 200 m individual medley | Carson Foster United States |
1:58.46 CR |
Finlay Knox Canada |
1:59.44 | Apostolos Papastamos Greece |
1:59.62 |
| 400 m individual medley | Apostolos Papastamos Greece |
4:11.93 WJR, CR |
Ilia Borodin Russia |
4:12.95 | Léon Marchand France | 4:16.37 |
| 4×100 m freestyle relay | United States (USA) Jake Magahey (49.51) Luca Urlando (48.73) Adam Chaney (48.64) Carson Foster (48.92) Jack Alexy[h] Matt Brownstead[h] Jack Armstrong[h] |
3:15.80 WJR, CR |
Russia (RUS) Arseniy Chivilev (50.23) Aleksandr Shchegolev (48.54) Egor Pavlov (49.67) Andrei Minakov (47.82) Pavel Samusenko[h] Aleksey Fedkin[h] |
3:16.26 | Italy (ITA) Federico Burdisso (49.38) Thomas Ceccon (48.59) Mario Nicotra (49.65) Stefano Nicetto (48.67) Paolo Conte Bonin[h] |
3:16.29 |
| 4×200 m freestyle relay | United States (USA) Jake Magahey (1:48.11) Luca Urlando (1:47.13) Jake Mitchell (1:47.03) Carson Foster (1:46.10) Dare Rose[h] Wyatt Davis[h] |
7:08.37 WJR, CR |
Russia (RUS) Nikita Danilov (1:48.76) Aleksandr Shchegolev (1:46.36) Maksim Aleksandrov (1:48.38) Aleksandr Egorov (1:48.40) Egor Pavlov[h] Roman Moskalenko[h] |
7:11.90 | Australia (AUS) Thomas Neill (1:47.58) Mitchell Tinsley (1:49.85) Thomas Hauck (1:48.65) Alexander Grant (1:48.98) Noah Millard[h] |
7:15.06 |
| 4×100 m medley relay | Russia (RUS) Nikolay Zuev (53.84) Vladislav Gerasimenko (59.53) Andrei Minakov (50.93) Aleksandr Shchegolev (48.89) Pavel Samulenko[h] Alexander Zhigalov[h] Egor Pavlov[h] Aleksei Fedkin[h] |
3:33.19 WJR, CR |
United States (USA) Will Grant (54.45) John Matheny (59.55) Blake Manoff (51.72) Adam Chaney (47.94) Wyatt Davis[h] Kevin Houseman[h] Dare Rose[h] Jack Armstrong[h] |
3:33.66 | Canada (CAN) Cole Pratt (54.79) Gabe Mastromatteo (59.82) Joshua Liendo Edwards (51.90) Finlay Knox (49.84) Tyler Wall[h] |
3:36.35 |
Girls
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 m freestyle | Gretchen Walsh United States |
24.71 | Maxine Parker United States |
24.75 | Meg Harris Australia |
24.89 |
| 100 m freestyle | Gretchen Walsh United States |
53.74 | Torri Huske United States |
54.54 | Meg Harris Australia |
54.58 |
| 200 m freestyle | Erika Fairweather New Zealand |
1:57.96 | Lani Pallister Australia |
1:58.09 | Emma O’Croinin Canada |
1:58.64 |
| 400 m freestyle | Lani Pallister Australia |
4:05.42 CR |
Emma O’Croinin Canada | 4:08.11 | Rachel Stege United States | 4:08.30 |
| 800 m freestyle | Lani Pallister Australia |
8:22.49 CR |
Miyu Namba Japan |
8:27.24 | Giulia Salin Italy |
8:28.99 |
| 1500 m freestyle | Lani Pallister Australia |
15:58.86 CR |
Giulia Salin Italy |
16:14.00 | Chase Travis United States |
16:18.04 |
| 50 m backstroke | Bronte Job Australia |
27.87 | Jade Hannah Canada Daria Vaskina |
27.91 | No medal awarded – joint silver | |
| 100 m backstroke | Jade Hannah Canada |
59.63 | Claire Curzan United States |
1:00.00 | Daria Vaskina Russia |
1:00.02 |
| 200 m backstroke | Jade Hannah Canada |
2:09.28 | Lena Grabowski Austria |
2:10.27 | Erika Gaetani Italy |
2:10.52 |
| 50 m breaststroke | Benedetta Pilato Italy |
30.60 | Kayla van der Merw Great Britain | 30.91 | Kaitlyn Dobler United States |
30.92 |
| 100 m breaststroke | Evgeniia Chikunova Russia |
1:06.93 | Kaitlyn Dobler United States |
1:06.97 | Kayla van der Merwe Great Britain |
1:07.06 |
| 200 m breaststroke | Evgeniia Chikunova Russia |
2:24.03 |
Anastasia Makarova Russia |
2:24.39 |
Mei Ishihara Japan | 2:24.99 |
| 50 m butterfly | Tori Huske United States |
25.70 | Anastasiya Shkurdai Belarus |
25.77 | Claire Curzan United States |
25.81 |
| 100 m butterfly | Torri Huske United States |
57.71 | Anastasiya Shkurdai Belarus |
57.98 | Claire Curzan United States |
58.37 |
| 200 m butterfly | Lillie Nordmann United States |
2:08.24 | Blanka Berecz Hungary |
2:08.93 | Charlotte Hook United States |
2:09.00 |
| 200 m individual medley | Justina Kozan United States |
2:11.55 | Alba Vázquez Spain |
2:13.43 | Mei Ishihara Japan |
2:13.52 |
| 400 m individual medley | Alba Vázquez Spain |
4:38.53 WJR, CR |
Isabel Gormley United States |
4:39.15 | Michaella Glenister Great Britain |
4:39.35 |
| 4×100 m freestyle relay | United States (USA) Gretchen Walsh (54.13) Torri Huske (54.50) Grace Cooper (55.04) Amy Tang (53.94) Maxine Parker[h] Justina Kozan[h] Erin Gemmell[h] |
3:37.61 | Australia (AUS) Mollie O’Callaghan (55.07) Meg Harris (55.51) Lani Pallister (55.23) Rebecca Jacobson (55.04) Gabriella Peiniger[h] Rebecca Jacobson[h] Michaela Ryan[h] |
3:40.85 | Italy (ITA) Chiara Tarantino (55.47) Maria Masciopinto (55.39) Emma Menicucci (55.37) Gaia Pesenti (55.81) |
3:42.04 |
| 4×200 m freestyle relay | United States (USA) Lillie Nordmann (1:59.31) Erin Gemmell (1:59.70) Justina Kozan (1:58.09) Claire Tuggle (1:58.39) Ashley Strouse[h] |
7:55.49 | Australia (AUS) Lani Pallister (1:58.61) Michaela Ryan (1:59.11) Rebecca Jacobson (2:00.71) Jenna Forester (1:59.44) Gabriella Peiniger[h] |
7:57.87 | Canada (CAN) Brooklyn Douthwright (1:59.69) Katrina Bellio (2:00.61) Genevieve Sasseville (2:02.89) Emma O’Croinin (1:57.95) Hanna Henderson[h] |
8:01.14 |
| 4×100 m medley relay | United States (USA) Claire Curzan (1:00.75) Kaitlyn Dobler (1:07.51) Torri Huske (57.86) Gretchen Walsh (53.01) Annabel Crush[h] Ellie Andrews[h] Lillie Nordmann[h] Amy Tang[h] |
3:59.13 | Russia (RUS) Daria Vaskina (59.90) Evgeniia Chikunova (1:07.45) Aleksandra Sabitova (58.47) Ekaterina Nikonova (54.48) Anastasia Makarova[h] Iana Sattarova[h] |
4:00.30 | Canada (CAN) Jade Hannah (1:00.42) Avery Wiseman (1:08.23) Hanna Henderson (59.16) Brooklyn Douthwright (55.36) Genevieve Sasseville[h] |
4:03.17 |
Mixed
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4×100 m freestyle relay | United States (USA) Luca Urlando (49.66) Adam Chaney (48.25) Amy Tang (54.18) Gretchen Walsh (53.83) Jake Magahey[h] Carson Foster[h] Grace Cooper[h] Maxine Parker[h] |
3:25.92 WJR, CR |
Russia (RUS) Aleksandr Shchegolev (49.03) Andrei Minakov (48.21) Daria Trofimova (55.40) Ekaterina Nikonova (55.08) Arsenii Chivilev[h] Pavel Samusenko[h] Aleksandra Sabitova[h] |
3:27.72 | Italy (ITA) Federico Burdisso (49.17) Thomas Ceccon (48.65) Chiara Tarantino (55.43) Costanza Cocconcelli (55.87) Mario Nicotra[h] Paolo Conte Bonin[h] Gaia Pesenti[h] Emma Menicucci[h] |
3:29.12 |
| 4×100 m medley relay | United States (USA) Will Grant (53.89) Josh Matheny (59.31) Torri Huske (58.04) Gretchen Walsh (53.60) Wyatt Davis[h] Kevin Houseman[h] Justina Kozan[h] Amy Tang[h] |
3:44.84 WJR, CR |
Russia (RUS) Nikolay Zuev (54.27) Anastasia Makarova (1:07.30) Andrey Minakov (51.66) Ekaterina Nikonova (54.83) Pavel Samusenko[h] Alexander Zhigalov[h] Aleksandra Sabitova[h] Daria Trofimova[h] |
3:48.06 | Canada (CAN) Jade Hannah (1:00.23) Gabe Mastromatteo (1:00.58) Joshua Liendo Edwards (52.33) Hanna Henderson (55.06) Brooklyn Douthwright[h] |
3:48.20 |
h = heats only swimmers – who receive medals
The Medals
| Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 18 | 10 | 9 | 37 |
| 2 | Russia | 7 | 11 | 4 | 22 |
| 3 | Australia | 4 | 5 | 4 | 13 |
| 4 | Italy | 3 | 2 | 7 | 12 |
| 5 | Canada | 2 | 5 | 5 | 12 |
| 6 | Croatia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | Hungary | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Spain | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 9 | Greece | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 10 | Czech Republic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| New Zealand | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Ukraine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 13 | Japan | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 14 | Belarus | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 15 | Great Britain | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 16 | Sweden | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 17 | Austria | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | France | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 19 | Brazil | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Bulgaria | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 42 | 43 | 41 | 126 | |
L année prochaine petit tu va nagé chez les seniors
Times/winners of women’s 200m breaststroke are incorrect – appear to have transposed the mens 200m fly there!! Otherwise an excellent article, and what strength in depth there is in world junior swimming
Thanks Graham – good spot. W200br now there. Best