2025 World Junior Championships: Day 6 Finals Live Recap

2025 World Junior Swimming Championships

• August 19-24, 2025
• Otopeni, Romania
• LCM (50 meters)
• Meet Central
• Meet Packet
• Team Leaders’ Guide
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• Live Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5

DAY 6 FINALS HEAT SHEET

Here we are: the final session of the 2025 World Junior Championships. This week has been action packed, seeing many records go down. Tonight’s session is filled to the brim with events, so this meet is sure to go out with a bang tonight.

DAY 6 FINALS SCHEDULE:

• Boys 100 Freestyle
• Girls 200 Breaststroke
• Boys 200 Backstroke
• Girls 100 Butterfly
• Boys 1500 Freestyle
• Girls 50 Freestyle
• Boys 200 Butterfly
• Boys 50 Breaststroke
• Girls 200 Freestyle
• Boys 4×100 Medley Relay
• Girls 4×100 Medley Relay

The boys 100 free should be an awesome showdown between Great Britain’s Jacob Mills and Italy’s Carlos D’Ambrosio. Mills earned the top seed in semifinals last night, where he clocked a 47.74, while D’Ambrosio was 47.86. D’Ambrosio is more than a second ahead of the next-fastest seed, so this really should be a race for gold between just 2 swimmers tonight.

Japan’s Mizuki Hirai will be back in action in the girls 100 fly tonight after breaking the Championship Record in the event in last night’s semis. Hirai clocked a 57.02 last night to down the record, though she was still a good bit off her own World Junior Record of 56.33, which she set last year.

The boys 1500 free will be a great race too. Turkey’s Kuzey Tuncelli set the World Junior Record in the event last year at the Paris Olympics with a 14:41.22. He’s the top seed by a wide margin tonight.

American Rylee Erisman will be capping off her phenomenal meet by pulling double, or maybe even triple, duty tonight in this session. Erisman will kick things off in the girls 50 free, where she’s the top seed with the 24.69 she swam in last night’s semis. That swim put her exactly 0.10 seconds off the Championship Record, which is held by Japan’s Rikako Ikee.

Following the 50 free, Erisman will have the 200 free final. In prelims this morning, Erisman went 1:57.76 to secure the top seed for tonight. She’s already shattered the Championship Record in the 100 free this week, and it looks like she has a good chance of taking down this record of 1:57.08 as well. Fellow American Kennedi Dobson was 2nd this morning with a 1:58.30, giving the US the top 2 seeds for tonight’s final.

BOYS 100 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Record: 46.40 – Pan Zhanle, China (2024)
• World Junior Record: 46.86 – David Popovici, Romania (2022)
• Championship Record: 47.07 – David Popovici, Romania (2022)

TOP 8:

1. Carlos D’Ambrosio (ITA) – 47.88
2. Jacob Mills (GBR) – 48.22
3. Tajus Juska (LTU) – 48.72
4. Roman Zhidkov (NAB) – 48.89
5. Gabriel Shepherd (GBR) – 48.95
6. Ben Cotroneo (AUS) – 49.24
7. Austin Carpenter (USA) – 49.77
8. Neo Dutriaux (FRA) – 49.94

Italy’s Carlos D’Ambrosio earned his 2nd individual gold medal of the meet, popping a 47.88 to get his hand on the wall 1st in the 100 free tonight. While that time was a little slower than the 47.74 that Jacob Mills went in semifinals last night, it was still enough to earn the win. D’Ambrosio posted the fastest splits in the field on both 50s tonight, clocking a 23.08 on the opening 50 and coming home in 24.80.

Mills was off his semis performance by half a second, earning the silver medal with a 48.22. While Mills was a little off tonight, this event was a great showing for Great Britain, as Gabriel Shepherd came in 5th tonight with a 48.95.

Lithuania picked up a medal with Tajus Juska coming in 3rd with a 48.72. That’s a big swim for the 16-year old, who was 49.01 in semifinals last night.

GIRLS 200 BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

• World Record: 2:17.55 – Evgeniia Chikunova, RUS (2023)
• World Junior Record: 2:19.64 – Viktoriya Zeynep Gunes, TUR (2015)
• Championship Record: 2:19.64 – Viktoriya Zeynep Gunes, TUR (2015)

TOP 8:

1. Moon Sua (KOR) – 2:24.77
2. Lena Ludwig (GER) – 2:26.56
3. Kaidy Stout (USA) – 2:26.84
4. Anastasiia Shilenkova (NAB) – 2:27.23
5. Daria Asaftei (ROU) – 2:27.43
6. Shima Taghavi (CAN) – 2:27.83
7. Qu Jianing (CHN) – 2:29.41
8. Kayda Geyer (USA) – 2:29.58

South Korea’s Moon Sua was dominant in the girls 200 breast tonight, ripping a 2:24.77 to finish 1st by nearly 2 seconds. She was out quick, splitting 1:09.73 on the opening 100m, then came home in 1:15.04.

In a tight race for silver, Germany’s Lena Ludwig got her hands on the wall just ahead of USA’s Kaidy Stout. Ludwig was slightly ahead of of Stout at the 100m turn, then expanded her lead to 0.59 seconds at the 150m turn. Stout then came home 0.21 seconds faster than Ludwig on the final 50, but it was enough to completely close the gap.

Canada’s Shima Taghavi posted the fastest final 50 split in the field, coming home in 37.71. She was in last place at the 100m turn, splitting 1:12.45, then she moved up to 6th by the end of the race.

BOYS 200 BACKSTROKE – FINALS

• World Record: 1:51.92 – Aaron Peirsol, USA (2009)
• World Junior Record: 1:55.14 – Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS (2017)
• Championship Record: 1:56.05 – Pieter Coetze, RSA (2022)

TOP 8:

1. John Shortt (IRL) – 1:56.19
2. Daniele del Signore (ITA) – 1:57.99
3. David Melnychuk (USA) – 1:58.13
4. Matteo Venini (ITA) – 1:58.49
5. Aukan Goldin (ISR) – 1:58.64
6. Gavin Keogh (USA) – 1:58.71
7. Anton Denysenko (UKR) – 2:00.45
8. Francis Brennan (CAN) – 2:00.46

Ireland’s John Shortt was exceptional in the boys 200 back tonight, ripping a 1:56.19. While Shortt fell just short of the Championship Record of 1:56.05, he did break his own Irish Record in the event. Shortt held the previous Irish Record at 1:56.61, which he swam at the Irish Championships back in April of this year.

Shortt was very consistent tonight, splitting 27.65 on the opening 50, then splitting 29.38, 29.63, and 29.53 respectively by 50 the rest of the way.

Italy was incredible in this event, seeing Daniele del Signore earn the silver medal with a 1:57.99. Italy also saw Matteo Venini take 4th in 1:58.49 tonight.

American David Melnychuk earned the bronze medal tonight, swimming a 1:58.13. That performance marks a huge career best for Melnychuk, taking more than a second off his previous best of 1:59.31, which he swam in semifinals last night. Fellow American Gavin Keogh clocked a 1:58.71 to finish 6th.

GIRLS 100 BUTTERFLY – FINALS

• World Record: 54.60 – Gretchen Walsh, United States (2025)
• World Junior Record: 56.33 – Mizuki Hirai, Japan (2024)
• Championship Record: 57.02 – Mizuki Hirai, Japan (2025)

TOP 8:

1. Mizuki Hirai (JPN) – 56.87 (Championship Record)
2. Audrey Derivaux (USA) – 57.74
3. Gong Zhenqi (CHN) – 58.10
4. Charlotte Crush (USA) – 58.26
5. Clare Watson (CAN) – 58.69
6. Caterina Santambrogio (ITA) – 58.78
7. Serafima Fokina (NAB) – 59.04
8. Aliisa Soini (FIN) – 59.13

Japan’s Mizuki Hirai cracked the Championship Record in the 100 fly once again, dropping a 56.87 to win gold. With the performance, Hirai took the record mark under 57 seconds for the first time. She was off her own World Junior Record of 56.33, but still won by nearly a full second tonight. Tonight, she was out in 26.55, then came home in 30.32.

American Audrey Derivaux added to her medal tally, finishing 2nd tonight in 57.74. That performance was just off her semifinals swim of 57.57, which stands as her career best in the event. With the silver medal, Derivaux has now won 4 individual medals at this meet, including tonight’s silver as well as golds in the 200 fly, 200 back, and 200 IM.

China’s Gong Zhenqi earned the bronze with a 58.10.

Charlotte Crush came in 4th tonight with a 58.26. Crush was just off her career best of 58.09.

BOYS 1500 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINAL

• World Record: 14:30.67 – Bobby Finke, USA (2024)
• World Junior Record: 14:41.22 – Kuzey Tuncelli, TUR (2024)
• Championship Record: 14:46.09 – Franko Grgic (2019)

TOP 8:

1. Kuzey Tuncelli (TUR) – 14:48.81
2. Kazushi Imafuku (JPN) – 14:56.97
3. Vasileios Kakoulakis (GRE) – 15:00.29
4. Johannes Liebmann (GER) – 15:04.40
5. William Mulgrew (USA) – 15:05.97
6. Won June (KOR) – 15:13.36
7. Chen Shengxin (CHN) – 15:14.39
8. Andrei-Theodor Proca (ROU) – 15:14.47

Turkey’s Kuzey Tuncelli picked up the win in the men’s 1500 free, swimming a 14:48.81 to earn the gold medal. Tuncelli is the World Junior Record holder in the event with the 14:41.22 he swam at the Olympics last summer. He split the race well tonight, going 4:54.44 on the first 500m, then 4:56.09 on the middle 500m, and came home in 4:58.28 on the final 500m.

Japan’s Kazushi Imafuku clocked a 14:56.97 to earn the silver medal tonight. He was off his personal best of 14:50.18. He started out at a great pace, splitting 4:54.67 on the opening 500, but wasn’t able to hold that pace.

Greece earned their first medal of the night, seeing Vasileios Kakoulakis earn bronze in 15:00.29. The performance marks a huge career best for Kakoulakis, who entered the meet with a 15:13.55.

GIRLS 50 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Record: 23.61 – Sarah Sjoestrom, Sweden (2023)
• World Junior Record: 24.17 – Claire Curzan, United States (2021)
• Championship Record: 24.59 – Rikako Ikee, Japan (2017) / Olivia Wunsch, Australia (2023)

TOP 8:

1. Rylee Erisman (USA) – 24.70
2. Theodora Taylor (GBR) – 24.72
3. Jana Pavalic (CRO) – 24.85
4. Annam Olasewere (USA) – 24.96
5. Kira Manokhina (NAB) – 25.05
6. Martine Damborg (DEN) – 25.30
7. Sum Yiu Li (HKG) – 25.34
8. Skye Carter (GBR) – 25.56

Ryle Erisman got the job done again, earning her 2nd individual gold medal of the meet with a 24.70 in the 50 free. It was a tight race, seeing Erisman get her hand on the wall just 0.02 seconds ahead of Great Britain’s Theodora Taylor. Erisman was a tiny bit faster in semifinals last night, where she clocked a 24.69. Her career best stands at 24.62. This was the 1st of Erisman’s 3 races tonight. She still has the 200 free final and the anchor leg of the USA’s girls 4×100 medley relay at the end of the session.

Taylor clocked a new career best, earning the silver medal with a 24.72. That performance took 0.10 seconds off Taylor’s previous best, which she swam in semifinals last night. Taylor hadn’t been under 25 seconds before this meet.

Croatia’s Jana Pavalic rounded out the podium, finishing 3rd tonight in 24.85. Pavalic was a touch faster in semifinals last night, where she swam a 24.79.

American Annam Olasewere was 4th tonight in 24.96. Like Erisman, she holds a career best of 24.62, which was faster than it took to win gold tonight.

BOYS 200 BUTTERFLY – FINALS

• World Record: 1:50.34 – Kristof Milak, HUN (2022)
• World Junior Record: 1:53.79 – Kristof Milak, HUN (2017)
• Championship Record: 1:53.87 – Kristof Milak, HUN (2017)

TOP 8:

1. Kris Mihaylov (RSA) – 1:56.16
2. David Antal (HUN) – 1:56.87
3. Tuncer Erturk (TUR) – 1:58.21
4. Xue Zijian (CHN) – 1:58.28
5. Anton Semenyuk (CAN) – 1:59.48
6. Blazej Dworakowski (1:59.52
7. Grigorii Vekovishchev (NAB) – 1:59.68
8. Jan Jurcik (CZE) – 2:00.45

Kris Mihaylov earned South Africa’s first medal of the night, earning gold in 1:56.16. Mihaylov was out fast, splitting 55.52 on the opening 100m. He entered the meet with a career best of 1:58.18, marking a huge improvement of a little over 2 seconds.

Hungary also earned its first medal of the night, seeing David Antal clock a 1:56.87 for silver. That performance marked a personal best by about half a second. Antal was out in 56.05 then came home in 1:00.82.

Turkey’s Tuncer Erturk came in 3rd tonight after finishing 7th this morning. Erturk clocked a 1:58.21 tonight, coming in just off his personal best of 1:58.14.

BOYS 50 BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

• World Record: 25.95 – Adam Peaty, GBR (2017)
• World Junior Record: 26.95 – Jan Malte Grafe, Germany (2025)
• Championship Record: 26.95 – Jan Malte Grafe, Germany (2025)

TOP 8:

1. Nusrat Allahverdi (TUR) – 26.98
2. Jan Grafe (GER) – 26.99
3. Shin Ohashi (JPN) – 27.12
4. Filip Nowacki (GBR) – 27.18
5. Max Morgan (GBR) – 27.21
6. Ian Call (USA) – 27.45
7. Jan Gajda (POL) – 27.96
8. Oleg Plotnikov (NAB) – 28.59

Turkey continues its hot streak in the boys events, seeing Nusrat Allahverdi win gold in the 50 breast with a 26.98. He won by a hair, touching out Germany’s Jan Grafe by just 0.01 seconds. Allahverdi entered the meet with a personal best of 27.16, marking an improvement of 0.18 seconds.

Meanwhile, Grafe set the World Junior Record in prelims yesterday with a 26.95, but wasn’t able to match that time in semifinals or finals. His 26.99 tonight marks just the 2nd time in his career he’s gone under 27 seconds. Moreover, Grafe entered the meet with a personal best of 27.59, marking some incredible improvement.

Japan’s Shin Ohashi earned the silver medal with a 27.12. Ohashi set World Junior Record in the 100 and 200 breast last month at Japan’s High School Championships.

Great Britain had a very strong showing in this race. Filip Nowacki, the gold medalist in the 100 and 200 breast this week, finishing 4th with a 27.18, while Max Morgan was 5th in 27.21.

GIRLS 200 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Record: 1:52.23 – Ariarne Titmus, AUS (2024)
• World Junior Record: 1:53.65 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2023)
• Championship Record: 1:57.08 – Taylor Ruck, CAN (2017)

TOP 8:

1. Yang Peiqi (CHN) – 1:56.25 (Championship Record)
2. Rylee Erisman (USA) – 1:56.76
3. Alessandra Mao (ITA) – 1:57.00
4. Kennedi Dobson (USA) – 1:57.45
5. Yan Tiaoshan (CHN) – 1:57.88
6. Bianca Nannucci (ITA) – 1:59.64
7. Yui Fukuoka (JPN) – 1:59.69
8. Ella Cosgrove (CAN) – 1:59.94

Everyone in the final of the girls 200 free tonight went under 2:00, and the top 3 finishers were all under the Championship Record. China’s Yang Peiqi clocked a 1:56.25 to win the event, taking nearly a second off the Championship Record of 1:57.08. Yang earned her 4th gold medal of the meet with that performance, already having won gold in the 400 free, 800 free, and 1500 free. Yang split the 200 free incredibly tonight, going 27.51 on the opening 50, then went 29.72, 29.68, and 29.34 respectively the rest of the way.

Coming off her gold medal in the 50 free, Rylee Erisman earned silver in the 200, swimming a new career best of 1:56.76. The performance marks Erisman’s first time under 1:57 in the event. Despite having recently raced the 50 free, Erisman managed to close the race exceptionally well tonight, splitting 29.17 on the final 50, which was the fastest closing split in the field.

Italian 14-year-old Alessandra Mao earned the bronze medal with a 1:57.00. Like Yang and Erisman, her time was under the previous Championship Record of 1:57.08. Moreover, Mao broke her own Italian Age Record for 14 year olds. Since April, Mao has taken that age record down from 2:02.77 to 1:57.00.

American Kennedi Dobson came in 4th with a 1:57.45. With that swim, Dobson clipped her personal best of 1:57.53, which she swam a few days ago leading off the 4×200 free relay.

BOYS 4×100 MEDLEY RELAY – FINALS

• World Record: 3:26.78 – USA (2021)
• World Junior Record: 3:33.19 – RUS (2019)
• Championship Record: 3:33.19 – RUS (2019)

TOP 8:

1. Japan – 3:35.00
2. Great Britain – 3:35.02
3. Italy – 3:35.86
4. Neutral Athletes B – 3:36.52
5. USA – 3:36.70
6. Romania – 3:38.15
7. Greece – 3:39.01
8. Poland – 3:39.83

Japan’s boys closed out the meet with a gold medal in the 4×100 medley relay. Yumeki Kojima (54.92), Shin Ohashi (58.55), Raito Numata (52.94), and Kazusa Kuroda (48.59) teamed up to clock a 3:35.00, beating out Great Britain by 0.02 seconds. Japan’s splits were great all-around, however, Ohashi’s 58.55 breast split stands out. Ohashi was only 59.50 in the individual 100 breast this week, so his split on this relay was huge for Japan.

Great Britain found themselves behind Japan at the halfway mark, seeing Daniel Ransom split 55.70 on backstroke and Filip Nowacki was 59.23 on breaststroke. Dean Fearn made up some ground on the fly leg, splitting 52.44, then Jacob Mills nearly got them over the finish line, tearing home in 47.65.

Italy came in 3rd with a 3:35.86, highlighted by Carlos D’Ambrosio’s massive anchor leg of 47.27.

GIRLS 4×100 MEDLEY RELAY – FINALS

• World Record: 3:49.34 – USA (2025)
• World Junior Record: 3:58.38 – CAN (2017)
• Championship Record: 3:58.38 – CAN (2017)

TOP 8:

1. USA – 3:59.85
2. China – 4:01.37
3. Neutral Athletes B – 4:01.61
4. Canada – 4:02.50
5. Japan – 4:02.57
6. Australia – 4:03.83
7. Great Britain – 4:04.43
8. Italy – 4:04.71

The USA capped off the meet with a gold medal in the girls 4×100 medley relay. Charlotte Crush clocked a 1:00.00 on the backstroke leg, then Rachel McAlpin was 1:09.16 on breaststroke, followed by Audrey Derivaux with a 57.94 on fly, then Rylee Erisman with a 52.75 on the anchor leg. Erisman managed to complete her trio of event tonight successfully, having won gold in the 50 free, silver in the 200 free with a personal best, and gold on this relay.

China came in 2nd with a 4:01.37. Li Jiawei (1:00.55), Wang Yijing (1:09.09), Gong Zhengqi (57.59), and Yang Peiqi (54.14) teamed up to earn the silver medal.

other notable splits in the field include Japan’s Mizuki Hirai going 56.34 on the fly leg. Great Britain’s Theodora Taylor was 1:07.3o on the breast leg as well.