World Junior Championships: Tomoyuki Matsushita Dismantles 400IM CR; Olivia Wunsch Anchors Australia 4×1 In 52.61

Tomoyuki Matsushita: Photo Courtesy: World Aquatics

World Junior Championships: Tomoyuki Matsushita Dismantles 400IM CR, Olivia Wunsch Anchors Australia 4×1 In 52.61

Tomoyuki Matsushita responded to his 200IM DQ in some style as he demolished the championship record in the long medley at the World Junior Championships in Netanya, Israel.

The Japanese swimmer went 4:10.97 and sat atop the lane rope, arms outstretched, to celebrate his country’s first gold of the meet so far.

Olivia Wunsch anchored the Australia women’s 4×100 freestyle relay in 52.61 as she claimed her third gold of the meet so far with the 50 to come.

All the action at the World Junior Championships:

Women’s 1500m Freestyle Fastest Heat

Han is just 15 but has been making ripples for more than a couple of years now since becoming the youngest qualifier to the US Olympic trials.

She headed the 800 in 8:29.66 and was just 0.08 off Mao Yihan in third at the final turn but ultimately finished outside the top three in fifth in 16:19.07.

Teammate Kate Hurst stopped the clock in 16:09.37 ahead of Japan’s Ruka Takezawa (16:18.68) and Mao, the 14-year-old Chinese finishing in 16:18.76.

2023-09-08 (9)

Men’s 100m Freestyle (Semifinals)

There was a shock when Flynn Southam – 50 free silver medallist and 200 champion – was locked out of the final by one place and 0.01 in 50.04.

Maximus Williamson headed the field in 49.38 ahead of Edward Sommerville (49.53) and Pedro Sansone (49.66).

Also through were European junior silver medallist Davide Passafaro and 50 free champion Nikoli Blackman.

2023-09-08 (10)

Women’s 100m Butterfly (Semifinals)

Just 0.12 separated the first four home with Mizuki Hirai booking lane four as she attempts to defend her 2022 title in 58.43.

Leah Shackley, winner of the 50 fly, will be in the adjacent lane after going 58.46 with USA teammate Bailey Hartman next in 58.49.

Lana Pudar, the European junior champion, will look to add the 100 to her 200 gold and 50 silver, after progressing fourth in 58.55.

2023-09-08 (11)

Men’s 50m Butterfly

Casper Puggaard repeated the 50/100 fly double he claimed at the European Juniors in Belgrade in July.

The Dane won the 50 in 23.50, a year after claiming double bronze at the World Junior Championships in Lima, Peru.

Lukas Edl of Austria upgraded 100 bronze to dash silver (23.89) with Thomas Pattison taking third in 23.95.

2023-09-08 (12)

Women’s 50m Freestyle (Semifinals)

Olivia Wunsch was just 0.01 outside Rikako Ikee‘s championship record when she stopped the clock for top seed in 24.60.

Ikee, set for the Asian Games later this month, went 24.59 at the 2017 World Junior Championships in Indianapolis.

Wunsch – winner of the 100 free – was some way clear of Sara Curtis, the Italian European junior champion clocking 24.91 with Annam Olasewere of the USA the other woman inside 25 in 24.95.

2023-09-08 (13)

Men’s 50m Breaststroke (Semifinals)

Felix Viktor Iberle set a championship record of 26.98 in the morning prelims in what was also an Indonesian mark.

While he didn’t repeat that feat in the semis, he booked lane four for the final in 27.15 as he seeks to become the first Indonesian medallist in world juniors history.

Jonas Gaur, the European junior champion, was second through in 27.68 with Watson Nguyen of the USA third in 27.75, the trio the only swimmers inside 28.

2023-09-08 (14)

Women’s 50m Backstroke

Iona Anderson upgraded silver to gold in 28.01 as she led an Australia 1-3.

Erika Pelaez of the USA was second in 28.07 with 100 champion Jaclyn Barclay third in 28.14.

All three women were also on the 100 podium – only in a different order.

2023-09-08 (15)

Men’s 400m Individual Medley

Tomoyuki Matsushita headed morning prelims as he looked to respond to his 400IM DQ.

And he did that in style with a championship record of 4:10.97 to slice almost a second off Apostolos Papastamos previous standard of 4:11.93 from Budapest 2019.

The Japanese split 56.71/2:02.54/3:13.51 before coming home in 30.08/27.38 for victory.

Zhang Shanshuo of China came from fourth at the 350 with a final 27.38 blast to take silver in 4:12.44 with Lorne Winnington of Canada claiming bronze (4:12.81).

2023-09-08 (16)

Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay

Olivia Wunsch split 52.61 as she anchored Australia to gold for her third title after the 100 free, the women’s 4×1 and her WJR in the mixed 4×1.

Milla Jansen led off in 54.18, handing over to Hannah Casey (54.89) with Jamie de Lutijs overhauled by the US as the Australians went into the final changeover 0.03 adrift.

However, Wunsch went 25.21/27.40 to guide Australia to the title in 3:36.52 ahead of the USA (3:37.71) and Canada (3:40.40).

2023-09-08 (17)

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use