2017 World Juniors: USA Adds 10 Medals on Final Night of Competition

6TH FINA WORLD JUNIOR SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Competition at the 2017 World Junior Championships concluded with day 6 finals in Indianapolis. On Monday, we saw swimmers compete for medals in the men’s 100 free, women’s 200 breast, men’s 200 back, women’s 100 fly, men’s 1500 free, women’s 50 free, men’s 200 fly, men’s 50 breast, women’s 200 free, men’s 4×100 medley relay, and women’s 4×100 medley relay.

The USA held a big lead through day 5, but they kicked it up a notch further on the final night of competition. The Americans added 10 medals to their total, including 3 gold, 5 silver, and 2 bronze medals. Their hardware come courtesy of Matthew Willenbring (100 free bronze), Zoe Bartel (200 breast gold), Ella Nelson (200 breast silver), Carson Foster (200 back silver), Andrew Abruzzo (1500 free gold), Michael Brinegar (1500 free silver), Grace Ariola (50 free silver), Michael Andrew (50 breast bronze), the men’s 4×100 medley relay (gold), and the women’s 4×100 medley relay (silver).

The Americans were the only team to break double digits in terms of total golds, finishing the meet with 12 golds to 2nd-ranked Canada’s 7. The USA also finished with double the number of total medals earned by any other country. They tallied up 32 medals, while Japan and Hungary tied for 2nd with 16 medals each.

2017 WORLD JUNIORS: DAY 6 SWIMMING MEDAL TABLE (ORDERED BY TOTAL GOLDS)

Place Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 USA 12 13 7 32
2 CAN 7 5 3 15
3 JPN 6 4 6 16
4 HUN 5 8 3 16
5 ESP 3 1 2 6
6 RUS 2 4 7 13
7 ITA 2 1 2 5
8 ARG 2 1 0 3
9 GBR 2 0 2 4
10 IRL 1 1 1 3
11 GER 1 0 0 1
12 POL 0 1 1 2
12 FRA 0 1 1 2
14 SWE 0 1 0 1
15 AUS 0 0 4 4
16 SRB 0 0 1 1
16 ROU 0 0 1 1
16 BUL 0 0 1 1

2017 WORLD JUNIORS: DAY 6 SWIMMING MEDAL TABLE (ORDERED BY TOTAL MEDALS)

Place Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 USA 12 13 7 32
2 JPN 6 4 6 16
2 HUN 5 8 3 16
4 CAN 7 5 3 15
5 RUS 2 4 7 13
6 ESP 3 1 2 6
7 ITA 2 1 2 5
8 GBR 2 0 2 4
8 AUS 0 0 4 4
10 ARG 2 1 0 3
10 IRL 1 1 1 3
12 POL 0 1 1 2
12 FRA 0 1 1 2
14 GER 1 0 0 1
14 SWE 0 1 0 1
14 SRB 0 0 1 1
14 ROU 0 0 1 1
14 BUL 0 0 1 1

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AvidSwimFan
6 years ago

The fact that there was only 1 relay gold speaks volume that they still came off with a lot of gold. Very impressive.

Now if we compare Olympic events gold how do we stack up? I’m just looking to see how much this young team can contribute to Team ?? on the biggest stage in 2020 which I’m sure is also their goal with more training and growth.

SwimPhan
6 years ago

Nice closing finish for the USA team to earn an impressive total medals. And in what is a post-Olympic “rebuilding” year. But there were some concerns along the way with a number of events where Americans were absent on the medal stand as well as some events where American swimmers didn’t even make it past the qualifying heats.
Plus China didn’t send a team and Brazil was MIA. The swim federations that ought to have concern are Australia and France whose medal finishes are way down the list. Either they left their best junior swimmers back home or the pipeline of age group international caliber swimmers is not producing. Non traditional swimming powers like Ireland and Argentina had a… Read more »

commonwombat
Reply to  SwimPhan
6 years ago

With AUS, the truth lies part way between the two scenarios you put forward. They DID select a team that was at least partially slanted towards the younger end of the age allowances and there were 3 notable “age eligible” females who were NOT present (Atherton, Titmus and McKeown Jr, two of whom were at sr Worlds) who WOULD most likely have figured in the medal equations in women’s backstroke and distance freestyle plus strengthened some relays.

However, the harsh reality is that the expense of supporting a competitive swimmer even at age level is such that swimming is no longer a “people’s sport” in AUS but rather it is now drawing from an ever contracting available talent pool. Almost… Read more »

Zanna
6 years ago

Any video on the mens 4 x 100 medley relay?

Danjohnrob
Reply to  Zanna
6 years ago

I know fans from other countries and US fans with certain cable TV packages got to watch the meet, but I haven’t seen ANY of the races. Some of them sounded wonderful, so I hope I’ll be allowed to watch them belatedly either here or on Youtube?

Tm71
Reply to  Danjohnrob
6 years ago

Yes it was all live on the Olympic channel which I realize many here don’t have yet

The real swim shady
Reply to  Zanna
6 years ago
Danjohnrob
Reply to  The real swim shady
6 years ago

Thanks so much! What an exciting race!

Kathy
6 years ago

Australia – 4 bronze. Wow.

Taa
Reply to  Kathy
6 years ago

How about China? Did they compete in 2015? Maybe this year they are boycotting Trump

Torchbearer
Reply to  Kathy
6 years ago

As an Australian it is really depressing- we won the last 2 editions of the World Juniors. The Commonwealth Games at home in April will be a real test after the improvement of Canada and GB….

commonwombat
Reply to  Torchbearer
6 years ago

A few DID warn that this team was nowhere near the standard of previous teams ….. and so it played out. Granted, there were 3 notable swimmers who were still “age eligible” who weren’t at this meet (Atherton, McKeown Jr, Titmus) but in reality, the majority of this team were often several seconds off qualifying for finals and were not even making semis in other events. From this team; the only clear candidate for senior selection in the near future is Winnington with some case to be made for Stubblety-Cook (200brs) and maybe Brunt.

How has this come to pass ? Demographics and ever narrowing talent pool is really starting to bite. Swimming is no longer “a sport of the… Read more »

commonwombat
Reply to  Kathy
6 years ago

Results that essentially mirror the relative quality of the team sent. This was a historically weak team with probably only one member who is a realistic candidate for sr selection in the near future (Winnington). Granted, the likes of Atherton, McKeown & Titmus (all still age eligible) were not present but the quality of this team was such that most were not even near making finals.

In all honesty, both Aus fans and intl observers need to recalibrate their views and expectations of AUS swimming. The glory days are long past and it is just back to being the “middle of the second division” team that it has been for the bulk of the history of intl swimming outside its… Read more »

Coach MM
6 years ago

Would be cool to see the medal stands for olympic events only. Crazy to think that if Penny Oleksiak had swim individual events, Canada would likely have more gold than the USA in Olympic events.

Bob
Reply to  Coach MM
6 years ago

Not really. Canada would likely gain two from 100 free/fly (ruck already got 200 free), but they would also lose two from 4×100 mixed free and jade Hannah’s 50 back. So they’d likely stay at 7. The USwould lose two of the golds from MA (50 back/fly) but i think that’s it, so they would be at 10.

Coach MM
Reply to  Bob
6 years ago

American girl also won the 50breast. I bet Penny would have won the 100free, 100fly and maybe even the 50free… Would’ve been a close meet on the run for the gold which is crazy to think when you compare USA vs. Canada.

Brownish
Reply to  Coach MM
6 years ago

50 free is more likely Ikee and would have doesn’t mean too much in the final results.

Ben
Reply to  Coach MM
6 years ago

Penny’s actually pretty bad at the 50m freestyle compared to her 100m events. She might have been able to contend for the 50m butterfly though (she and Ikee are the only juniors ever to go under 26 seconds as far as I can tell), if she made this her main focus event for the summer instead of Budapest. Most of her times here were actually a bit slower than Budapest.

Brownish
Reply to  Coach MM
6 years ago

Hungary won all the medals except the 50 fly (bronze) in olympic events.

Taa
6 years ago

I would say most of the USA improvement is because it’s a home meet but the gold count is pretty impressive considering the lack of relay golds

Zanna
6 years ago

Also Hungary Men in the 100 free relay and 200 free relay could also challenge in upcoming years.

Brownish
Reply to  Zanna
6 years ago

And in fly and free and IM.

LVH11
6 years ago

such an improvement for team USA from 2015 wjc to this time. That time they took 26 medals and 6 golds. Also Canada have amazing meet although every gold came from women. Their 4×100 certainly will be USA ultimate rival in 2020 and their 4×200 also.
I think female swimmer of the meet
1. Rikako Ikee
2. Delfina Pignatiello
3. Regan Smith
for Male :
1. Michael Andrew
2. Kristof Milak
3. Andrew Abruzzo

Bob
Reply to  LVH11
6 years ago

Every gold came from the women? You mean every medal… (Except mixed relays, but those were gold as well)

Judga
Reply to  Bob
6 years ago

Technically both statements would be correct. The mens side of swimming in Canada seems to start to be moving forward though!

Brownish
Reply to  LVH11
6 years ago

You missed out Ajna Kesely and Hugo Gonzales from 2nd place and Hungary in full.

Brownish
Reply to  Brownish
6 years ago

And forgot Japan. BTW Hungary won 3 medals (silvers) in Dubai, 1 silver in Singapore (and no medals at the previous 3).

Mclovin96
Reply to  LVH11
6 years ago

I know you are American, but you cant deny Hugo González should be at least one of the 3 male swimmer of the meet contender

LVH11
Reply to  Mclovin96
6 years ago

Ahh sorry I forget him, yeah he deserve in second place, also kesely

Lauren
Reply to  LVH11
6 years ago

Andrew Abruzzo was awesome!!!

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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