Men’s 200m Breaststroke  |   A come-from-behind win for Hong Kong China’s Adam Mak 

Adam Mak Sai-Ting (2:13.74) delivered a come-from-behind win in the Men’s 200m Breaststroke final on night four of racing at the Wingate Institute, moving from third to first over the final lap to become just the second-ever junior world champion from Hong Kong China.

In a race that had a different leader at every turn, Josh Bey led at 50m to finish sixth (2:14.56), Yamoto Okadome at the 100m to finish seventh (2:14.90), and Riku Yamaguchi at the 150m to finish third (2:12.13). Mak was joined by the United States of America’s Jordan Willis out of the final turn as the two powered down the last fifty, Willis moving from fourth at the turn to second at the finish to secure the silver medal (2:12.07).

Mak was third in Lima in the 200m Breaststroke last year, and like a number of winners here in Netanya has no doubt been thinking about this race for the best part of twelve months. Conversely twelve months ago a Junior World Championships medal would have been the furthest thing from Willis’ mind, with his time tonight almost seven seconds faster then his season-best from 2022.

The boys’ breaststroke events here in Netanya have provided some of the best finishes of the championships with six different swimmers winning medals across the 100m and 200m events. With the top two seeds in the 50m Breaststroke still yet to win a medal, the shortest breaststroke race on the program will no doubt provide just as many fireworks to close out the ninth edition of these championships.

Women’s 50m Butterfly  |  “Oh Yeah!” Shackley becomes new world junior champion

Backstroker Leah Shackley has become the new Women’s 50m Butterfly world junior champion. In a result that surprised everyone including Shackley herself.

In a blanket finish Shackley hit the wall in 26.20, just touching out 200m Butterfly world junior champion Lana Pudar (26.26), with a tie for the bronze medal between Olivia Wunsch (26.53) and Mizuki Hirai (26.53). Shackley’s reaction in her post-race interview was one for the highlight reel.

“Oh yeah!” the 17-year-old exclaimed when asked how she felt, before pumping her fists in the air to the joy of a loud and rapturous group of teammates from Team USA.

Shackley started her junior international career as a backstroker, and after missing selection for the backstroke events here in Netanya, turned her attention to the butterfly events. She told the crowd after her race that she still considers herself a backstroker, although one would have to think that as the new junior world champion, she may just have to consider herself a butterfly swimmer from now on.

Men’s 50m Backstroke  |  A family affair as Knedla finally wins first Junior World title

After two bronze medals in Lima last year and a silver medal earlier in the meet, the wait is finally over for Czechia’s Miroslav Knedla who is now a junior world champion. The 18 year-old was fastest off the wall at the start of the sprint race and held off a fast finishing field to win gold in 24.80.

Knedla was embraced by his father when exiting the pool in an emotional moment in front of the Netanya crowd, with his family being front row for every one of the Czech’s swims this week.

 “I feel really good I am really happy for everyone who has supported me and cheered for me, especially my family over there, it’s just incredible,” said Nedla as he pointed to his parents in the crowd.

With his family watching on draped in a large Czechia flag, it was clearly evident that Knedla’s first world junior title meant a significant deal for Knedla, his family, and his country.

Men’s 100m Backstroke world junior champion Oleksandr Zheltiakov (24.91) almost did enough to snatch gold with the first ‘sub 25’ time of his career, while Argentina’s Ulises Saravia (25.02) delivered his nation’s second medal of the meet.

Women’s 100m Breaststroke  |  Canada’s Alexanne Lepage lost for words after winning Canada’s first gold of 2023

Alexanne Lepage has stunned the field in the Women’s 100m Breaststroke delivering a 34.92 final lap to become the new world junior champion. Lepage entered these championships as a 1:09.66 swimmer over the two laps, and tonight hit the wall in 1:06.58 – the fastest gold medal winning time in all nine editions of these championships.

“It’s incredible. I’m a little shocked, to be honest,” Lepage told World Aquatics in her post-race interview.

Her win puts Canada on the board with their first gold medal in Netanya in a swim that will no doubt spur on her teammates over the final two days. Estonia’s Eneli Jefimova (1:06.84) led for all but the final five metres of the race to win silver, while Spain’s Jimena Ruiz (1:07.25) delivered her nation’s first medal of the championships with bronze.

Women’s 400m Freestyle  |   Another Dean Boxall prodigy making waves on the world stage

Remember the name - Jamie Perkins. The 18-year-old Australian powered home in the final of Women’s 400m Freestyle, overtaking top qualifier Ella Christina Jansen on the eighth and final lap of the race to win her first junior world title. The Dean Boxall coached swimmer who trains alongside current 400m Freestyle World Champion Ariarne Titmus channelled her training partner here in Netanya by touching first in 4:05.72.

“That was a really tough race, I had Ella pushing me the whole way and I just stuck to my race plan and I was able to get that win here tonight,” Perkins told the crowd after her race.

“I’ve had a long 12 moths battling a back injury, but that was a really good swim tonight and a great preparation going into next year.”

The United States of America’s Madi Mintenko (4:08.06) was second, while teammate Addison Sauickie (4:08.94) was third.

Men’s 50m Freestyle  |  Commonwealth Youth Games champion becomes World Junior Champion

Nikoli Blackman is officially the fastest junior swimmer in the world after taking out the Men’s 50m Freestyle final on night four in Netanya. Having just delivered a gold medal in this event at a home Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad & Tobago last month, Blackman maintained his hot streak by touching first in a near identical time of 22.35.

It was a second 50m Freestyle final at a World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships for Blackman, having finished 7th in Lima last year.

Speaking to World Aquatics after his race, Blackman said that twelve months later he was a more confident swimmer, and he credits this confidence to his success in tonight’s final.

“It feels great because last year I swam the 50m Freestyle in Lima, and the difference between last year and this year was I was nervous going into the final last year,” said Blackman.

“This year I was more confident I could win and we got the gold.”

Australia’s Flynn Southam (22.43) touched second, while  Lorenzo Ballarati (22.47) was third.

Women’s 200m IM  |  Another world junior title and championship records for USA co-captain Leah Hayes

The United States of America’s Leah Hayes continues to be unstoppable in Netanya, winning the Women’s 200m Individual Medley in a new Championship Record time of 2:10.24. The Team USA co-captain put almost three seconds on the rest of the field, with teammate Haley McDonald (2:13.18) second and Canada’s Julie Brousseau (2:13.74) third.

Hayes kickstarted the competition here in Netanya with a Championship Record on the first night of racing and has continued to spur on Team USA in and out of the pool.

“Team USA is the best team and I couldn’t be happier to represent it, it’s an honour and I love it,” Hayes told the crowd after another record-breaking swim.

Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle

The United States of America (7:09.03) continued their impressive relay form in the final event of night four with a comfortable win in the Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay. Daniel Diehl provided the standout swim for the USA with a 1:46.61 to anchor the relay.

The People’s Republic of China (7:13.37) won a surprise silver medal ahead of third-place Australia (7:16.02), with China’s result made even more impressive given the same four swimmers had to race heats and finals due to their small team size in Netanya. The United States of America made a complete team change for the final, while Australia swapped two swimmers from the morning’s heats.

Celebration of the Night

Medal Tally

View the Medal Tally after four days of competition