2025 European Junior Championships: Day Six Finals Live Recap

2025 European Junior Championships

• Tuesday, July 1 – Sunday, July
• X-bionic® sphere Pool, Šamorín, Slovakia
• LCM (50m)
• Start Times – Local: Prelims – 9:30 am / Finals – 6:00 pm
• Start Times – EST: Prelims – 3:30 am / Finals – 12:00 pm
• SwimSwam Preview
• Meet Central
• Entries (by event)
• Entries (by country)
• Live European Aquatics Results
• Livestream (Pay-To-Watch)
• Recaps:
  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5

We’ve arrived at the final day of action at the 2025 European Junior Championships, which means tonight’s agenda contains only medal-contesting races to close out the week in Slovakia.

The nation of Great Britain enters this last day as the leader of the overall medal table; however, Italy, Lithuania, Spain and Turkey are very much in the mix with potential for more hardware as the session unfolds.

British breaststroke Filip Nowacki is the one to beat in the boys’ 100m breaststroke, possibly following up his earlier European Junior Record in the 200m breast with another monster mark this evening.

Teammate Dean Fearn leads the boys’ 50m fly while Amelie Blocksidge will try to make the podium for her nation in the 400m free.

Lithuanian Tajus Juska has already captured three individual medals thus far and leads the boys’ 100m freestyle. His countrymate Smilte Plytnykaite will also be in the water, taking on the girls’ 100m breast as she tries to upgrade her 2024 silver to gold this time around.

Follow along and refresh this post often to stay updated as the racing wraps up in this thrilling competition.

GIRLS 200 IM – FINAL

• World junior record: 2:06.89 – Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2023
• European junior record: 2:11.03
• Meet record: 2:12.41 – Leah Schlosshan (GBR), 2023
• 2024 European junior champion: Laura Cabanes Garzas (ESP), 2:13.25

GOLD – Amalie Smith (GBR), 2:12.62
SILVER – Noelle Benkler (GER), 2:12.74
BRONZE – Grace Davison (IRL), 2:14.05

Already the 400m IM winner here in a new European Junior Record, 15-year-old Amalie Smith of Great Britain broke through once again with a gold medal-worthy time of 2:12.62 to take the 200m IM.

Smith’s performance erased both her previous PB of 2:14.57 entering this competition as well as the 2:13.54 notched in last night’s semi-finals. The teen came within .33 of the 2:12.41 Championships Record her compatriot Leah Schlosshan logged 2 years ago.

With her victory, Smith also established a new British Age Record for 15-year-old girls, erasing the 2:13.26 Olympic medalist Siobhan-Marie O’Connor put on the books in 2011.

Runner-up status tonight went to Germany’s Noelle Benkler who nabbed a new personal best of 2:12.74 for her first-ever foray under the 2:13 barrier.

Ireland’s Grace Davison produced a mark of 2:14.05 to round out tonight’s podium.

BOYS 100 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

• World junior record: 52.53 – Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2018
• European junior record: 52.53 – Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2018
• Meet record: 52.91 – Ksawery Masiuk (POL), 2022
• 2024 European junior champion: Daniele del Signore (ITA), 54.68

GOLD – John Shortt (IRL), 54.09
SILVER – Georgii Iakovlev (AIN), 54.47
BRONZE – Nathan Muratory (FRA), 54.75

He missed out on a repeat title in the boys’ 200m backstroke but 18-year-old John Shortt of Ireland exacted his revenge with a victory in this 1back race.

Shortt stopped the clock at a time of 54.09 to hold a healthy advantage over semi-finals leader Georgii Iakovlev of the neutral team. Iakovlev earned silver in 54.47 as Frenchman Nathan Muratory bagged the bronze in 54.75.

Shortt opened in 26.49 and closed in 27.60 to get the job done, with tonight’s outing representing his 2nd-best performance ever. His PB remains at the 53.80 turned in during the Irish Championships this past April

Of note, 2024 champion Daniele del Signore of Italy fell to 4th place, hitting 54.98 to land off the podium.

GIRLS 100 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

• World junior record: 57.57 – Regan Smith (USA), 2019
• European junior record: 59.08 – Anastasia Shkurdai (BLR), 2020
• Meet record: 59.62 – Polina Egorova (RUS), 2017
• 2024 European junior champion: Daria-Mariuca Silisteanu (ROU), 1:00.72

GOLD – Daria-Mariuca Silisteanu (ROU), 1:00.40
SILVER – Jeanne Lechevalier (FRA), 1:00.52
BRONZE – Blythe Kinsman (GBR), 1:00.70

Nothing too crazy transpired in the final of the girls’ 100m backstroke as no competitor dipped under the 1:00 threshold.

Romania’s Daria-Mariuca Silisteanu indeed repeated as the gold medalist, punching a final result of 1:00.40 to maintain her title. Her outing tonight was faster than the 1:00.72 it took her to top the podium a year ago.

Jeanne Lechevalier of France maintained her 2nd-slotted position out of last night’s semi-finals, snagging the silver in 1:00.52 as Great Britain’s Blythe Kinsman was good enough for bronze in 1:00.70.

BOYS 100 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

• World junior record: 59.01, Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA), 2017
• European junior record: 59.01, Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA), 2017
• Meet record: 59.23, Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA), 2017
• 2024 European junior champion: Evangelos Efraim Ntoumas (GRE), 1:00.80

GOLD – Filip Nowacki (GBR), 59.59
SILVER – Evangelos Efraim Ntouomas (GRE), 1:00.18
BRONZE – Nusrat Allahverdi (TUR), 1:00.24

17-year-old Filip Nowacki of Great Britain successfully doubled up on his breaststroke wins, adding this 100m breast gold to the 200m distance he won earlier in the meet in a new European Junior Record.

Nowacki stopped the clock at a swift 59.59 as the sole competitor of the field to delve under the 1:00 barrier.

His result represents a big-time personal best, eclipsing the 1:00.25 he posted at the AP Race International in May. Nowacki’s time here checks in as a new British Age Record for 17-year-olds, overtaking the 1:00.10 Max Morgan logged at this year’s World Championship Trials.

Greece’s Evangelos Efraim Ntoumas fell short of repeating as gold medalist but still landed on the podium with silver in 1:00.18. Turkey’s ace Nusrat Allahverdi rounded out the top 3 performers tonight in 1:00.24.

BOYS 100 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World junior record: 46.86 – David Popovici (ROU) – 2022
• European junior record: 46.86 – David Popovici (ROU) – 2022
• Meet record: 47.30 – David Popovici (ROU) – 2021
• 2024 European junior champion: Tajus Juska (LTU), 48.74

GOLD – Luca Hoek le Guenedal (ESP), 48.25
SILVER – Tajus Juska (LTU), 48.57
BRONZE – Justin Cvetkov (SRB), 49.03

The top two finishers in this boys’ 100m free both dipped under the 49-second barrier, led by Spaniard Luca Hoek le Guenedal.

17-year-old le Guenedal punched a result of 48.25, a mark just .11 outside the 48.14 lifetime best and unratified Spanish national record he logged as relay lead-off earlier at this competition.

Last year’s winner Tajus Juska of Lithuania, was relegated to the silver medal position this time around, still posting a respectable result of 48.57, a new lifetime best.

Serbia got on the board, courtesy of Justin Cvetkov who nabbed bronze in 49.03.

GIRLS 100 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

• World junior record: 1:04.35, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2013
• European junior record: 1:04.35, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2013
• Meet record: 1:05.48, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2013
• 2024 European junior champion: Eneli Jevimova (EST) – 1:06.12

GOLD – Smilte Plytnykaite (LTU), 1:07.21
SILVER – Lena Ludwig (GER), 1:08.10
BRONZE – Theodora Taylor (GBR), 1:08.47

University of Virginia commit Smilte Plytnykaite of Lithuania, last year’s silver medalist, grabbed the top spot in the girls’ 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:07.21.

That effort represents a new lifetime best for the teen, erasing her former PB of 1:07.63 put up during this year’s Mare Nostrum Tour and also quicker than her 1:07.40 semi-final performance.

Plytnykaite held a solid advantage over the rest of the field, with Germany’s Lena Ludwig next to the wall in 1:08.10.

Last year’s bronze medalist, Theodora Taylor of Great Britain, held fast at 3rd in 1:08.47.

GIRLS 50 BUTTERFLY – FINAL

• World junior record: 25.46 – Rikako Ikee (JPN), 2017
• European junior record: 25.66
• Meet record: 26.10 – Lana Pudar (BIH), 2023
• 2024 European junior champion: Martine Damborg (DEN), 26.21 & Jana Pavalic (CRO), 26.21

GOLD – Flawia Kamzol (POL), 26.17
SILVER – Martine Damborg (DEN), 26.25
BRONZE – Mariia Osetrova (AIN), 26.44

As is usually the case with 50s on the international racing scene, tonight’s girls’ 50m fly rendered a tightly packed field, with the top 3 separated by just .27.

Poland’s Flawia Kamzol was the top performer, registering a winning time of 26.17 to take the gold. That checked in as a new lifetime best, beating her former career-quickest effort of 26.48 from last year’s semi-finals. She now represents Poland’s 5th-best performer of all time.

Last year’s co-champion Martine Damborg was downgraded to silver medalist tonight in 26.25 as neutral athlete Mariia Osetrova captured bronze in 26.44.

BOYS 50 BUTTERFLY – FINAL

• World junior record: 22.96 – Diogo Ribeiro (POR), 2022
• European junior record: 22.96 – Diogo Ribeiro (POR), 2022
• Meet record: 23.44 – Teo del Reigo Torres (ESP), 2024
• 2023 European junior champion: Teo del Riego Torres (ESP), 23.44

GOLD – Dean Fearn (GBR), 23.29 *Championship Record
SILVER – Jan Foltyn (CZE), 23.55
BRONZE – Nemanja Maksic (SRB), 23.78

17-year-old Dean Fearn controlled this boys’ 50m fly from start to finish, ultimately touching in a swift 23.29 as a new British Age Record.

His performance beat his own previous NAG of 23.69 notched in April of this year, with Fearn now representing GBR’s 4th-fastest man in history.

Top 5 British Men’s LCM 50 Fly Performers All-Time

1. Ben Proud – 22.75, 2017
2. Jacob Peters – 22.84, 2023
3. Lewis Fraser – 23.26, 2024
4. Dean Fearn – 23.29, 2025
5. Adam Barrett – 23.40, 2014

The Czech Republic got on the board in this event, courtesy of Jan Foltyn‘s mark of 23.55 while Serbia picked up its 2nd medal of the evening with Nemanja Maksic‘s silver medal-worthy time of 23.78.

GIRLS 400 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World junior record: 3:56.08 – Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2023
• European junior record: 4:03.57 – Ajna Kesely (HUN), 2018
• Meet record: 4:05.89 – Ajna Kesely (HUN), 2018
• 2024 European Junior Champion: Lilla Minna Abraham (HUN), 4:09.85

GOLD – Sofia Diakova (AIN), 4:07.06
SILVER – Kseniia Misharina (AIN), 4:07.52
BRONZE – Emma Vittoria Giannelli (ITA), 4:09.05

Neutral athletes secured the top two slots of the girls’ 400m freestyle final, led by 17-year-old Sofia Diakova of Russia.

Diakova stopped the clock at 4:07.06 to easily clear the 2024 European Junior Championships winning time of 4:09.85 last year’s winner Lilla Minna Abraham of Hungary produced.

Fellow neutral athlete Kseniia Misharina got it done for silver less than half a second back in 4:07.52 and Italy’s Emma Vittoria Giannelli wrangled up bronze in 4:09.05.

BOYS 400 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World junior record: 3:44.31 – Petar Mitsin (BUL), 2023
• European junior record: 3:44.31 – Petar Mitsin (BUL), 2023
• Meet record: 3:44.31 – Petar Mitsin (BUL), 2023
• 2024 European Junior Champion: Alesssandro Ragaini (ITA), 3:47.96

GOLD – Grigorii Vekovishchev (AIN), 3:48.71
SILVER – Johannes Liebmann (GER), 3:49.07
BRONZE – Kuzey Tuncelli (TUR), 3:49.50

We had an upset in this boy’s 400m free, as neutral athlete Grigorri Vekovishchev got it done for gold in 3:48.71. That checked in as the Russian’s first outing under the 3:50 barrier, erasing his former PB of 3:50.62 from this past April.

His result held a narrow advantage over Johannes Liebmann, Germany’s emerging distance ace, who clocked 3:49.07 for silver.

Turkey’s 800m free and 1500m free champion here, Kuzey Tuncelli settled for bronze in 3:49.50.

GIRLS 4×100 MEDLEY RELAY – FINAL

• World junior record: 3:58.38 – Canada, 2017
• European junior record: 4:00.30 – Russia, 2019
• Meet record: 4:01.83 – Russia, 2019
• 2024 European junior champion: Italy, 4:04.48

GOLD – Italy, 4:04.30
SILVER – Germany, 4:04.34
BRONZE – Lithuania, 4:05.22

In the all-important girls’ 4x100m medley relay, it was the nation of Italy that wound up on top, successfully defending its gold medal from last year’s edition of this competition.

The combination of Benedetta Boscaro, Irene Burato, Caterina Santambriogo, and Alessandro Leonia collectively stopped the clock at a speedy 4:04.30 to eke out the victory over Germany who touched only.04 behind in 4:04.34.

Likthuana picked up the bronze in 4:05.22.

Splits for Italy’s winning lineup included 1:01.98 for Boscaro ,followed by Burato’s 2nd leg of 1:09.16. Santambriogo carried the momentum with a 3rd leg of 58.86 before turning ot over to Leonia who closed in 54.31.

BOYS 4×100 MEDLEY RELAY – FINAL

• World junior record: 3:33.19 – Russia, 2019
• European junior record: 3:33.19 – Russia, 2019
• Meet record: 3:35.24 – Italy, 2017
• 2024 European junior champion: Italy, 3:37.13

GOLD – GBR, 3:38.09
SILVER – Greece, 3:38.96
BRONZE – Spain, 3:39.18

The final event of the 2025 European Junior Championships saw the nation of Great Britain soar to the wall first, securing gold in the boys’ 4x100m medley relay.

The foursome of Dean Fern (56.29), Nowacki (59.53), Jack Brown (53.59), and Gabriel Shepherd (48.68) produced a winning time of 3:38.09 to hold off the Greek team who touched less than a second back in 3:38.96.

Spain captured bronze in 3:39.18 this evening to wrap up its successful 2025 European Junior Championships campaign.