World Junior Swimming Championships: High-level performances in Dubai (UAE)

Ruta Meilutyte & Mackenzie Horton

Lausanne (SUI), AKUATIK (August 31, 2013) – The fourth edition of the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships, held in Dubai (UAE) from August 26-31, 2013 produced an amazing number of 47 Championships Records, and consecrated many stars in the iconic Hamdan Sports Complex.

Among men, Mackenzie Horton (AUS) won four individual gold medals, getting all the titles from 200m to 1500m free. In the women’s field, the most successful swimmer was Ruta Meilutyte, from Lithuania, who also left the United Arab Emirates with four individual victories. Meilutyte, 2012 Olympic champion, and already a world winner at senior level, dominated, as expected, in the breaststroke events, but competed with success in new distances (gold medal in the 50m free, for example).

The medal table was topped by Australia, with 10 gold medals, ahead of Russia and the US team, both finishing with nine titles. The North American delegation won the trophies of the team competitions in both the boys’ and the girls’ fields, receiving the overall Championship Trophy.

This world junior event in Dubai (UAE) closed a busy summer, which included the 15th FINA World Championships in Barcelona (ESP) and the two first legs of the FINA Swimming World Cup (in 25m-pool). In these two major senior events, 16 World Records have been established.

The competition programme in Dubai comprised 42 events, including the 4x100m free and medley mixed relays, and was contested by swimmers aged 15-18 (for men) and 14-17 (for women). The Hamdan Sports Complex, where the event was staged, had welcomed in December 2010 the 10th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m).

After this fourth junior edition in 2013, the 2015 championships will take place in Singapore (SIN), while the 2017 rendezvous will be hosted by Budapest, the Hungarian capital.