Croatia’s Grgic Shatters CR and WJ Record During Final Day of World Juniors

by Madeleine Lepesant 8

August 25th, 2019 News

7th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships 2019

Men’s 1500m Freestyle – fastest heat

  • WR 14:31.02 SUN Yang CHN London (GBR) 4 AUG 2012
  • CR 14:56.60 HORTON Mack AUS Dubai (UAE) 31 AUG 2013
  • WJ 14:51.55 HORTON Mack AUS Brisbane (AUS) 1 APR 2014

Podium:

  1. Franko GRGIC CRO 14:46.09
  2. Thomas NEILL AUS 14:59.19
  3. Ilia SIBIRTSEV RUS 15:05.17

Franko Grgic of Croatia has broken the Championship Record World Junior Record in the men’s 1500m free with 14:46.09 at the World Junior Championships in Budapest on Sunday. He outswam silver medalist Thomas Neill of Australia and bronze medalist Ilia Sibirtsev of Russia. Mack Horton of Australia held both of the previous records. He set the Championships Record of 15:56.60 in Dubai in August of 2013 and he went on to set the World Junior Record in April 2014 in 14:51.55.

Grgic also lowered his own Croation National Record in the 1500 free, previously at 14:56.55.

Earlier in the meet, Grgic broke the World Junior Record, the Championships Record, and the Croatian National Record in the 800 on Thursday. He took eight seconds off of his time to shatter Marin Mogic’s previous record.

Earlier this year, Grgic became the youngest swimmer to ever go under 15 minutes in the men’s 1500m free.

By the 500 mark, Grgic was already 2 seconds ahead of the Championships Record pace. He increased that to a 7 second lead by the 1000 and then smashed the record by nearly 10 seconds. By the 100 mark, Grgic was a body length ahead of the next swimmer and by the end he was a a third of the pool length ahead.

Below is a comparison of Horton’s Championships Record time and Grgic’s time.

 

Horton 2013 CR Running Time Grgic’s Running Time
500m 4 :56.84 4 :54.84
1000m 9 :58.46 9:51.66
1500m 14 :56.60 14:46.09

Thomas Neill of Australia finished 13 seconds behind for the silver medal, dropping 15 seconds from his seed time and clocking in at 14:59.19. Ilia Sibirtsev earned the bronze medal with a time of 15:05.17, improving his time by three seconds.

Grgic’s time makes him the sixth fastest 1500m swimmer in the world this year.

2018-2019 LCM MEN 1500 FREE

FlorianGER
WELLBROCK
07/28
14.36.54
2Myhailo
ROMANCHUK
UKR14.37.6307/28
3Gregorio
PALTRINIERI
ITA14.38.3404/06
4David
AUBRY
FRA14.44.7207/28
5Henrik
CHRISTIANSEN
NOR14.45.3507/28
6Franko
GRGIC
CRO14.46.0908/25
7Daniel
JERVIS
GBR14.46.5104/18
8Alexander
NORGAARD
DEN14.47.7507/27
9Jan
MICKA
CZE14.48.5204/13
10Bobby
FINKE
USA14.51.1507/31
View Top 26»

 

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Mike
4 years ago

Did anyone else notice he was totally submerged at the finish?

Coach Mike 1952
4 years ago

Phenomenal young talent & smooth stroke to get the 1500 WJ record. Also, before he walked out on deck prior to his 800 race, did anyone see the infectious smile & exuberance on his face? I was unable to see today’s race, but wouldn’t be surprised if he had an even bigger smile. And he was THIS close to Mack Horton’s 800 record too. He’s got at least one more JWC crack at it in 2021 as Tkrisz said, if not sooner.

Texas Tap Water
4 years ago

He’ll be a medalist in Tokyo next year.

Rush!
4 years ago

Svaka čast.

rsginsf
4 years ago

IMO the performance of the meet. Amazing.

Jeff
4 years ago

Right now I really could see him winning a medal at the olympics. If I had to predict it will be a silver in the 800 free and bronze in the 1500. But, I could see him winning the 800.

Luigi
4 years ago

Phenomenal. Paltrinieri was like 30 seconds slower at his age. Of course everyone progresses differently. But if this guy is not in the mix for medals within 2021 WCs (if not sooner …), I will be very surprised.

tkrisz
4 years ago

Amazing. He can be at WJC even in 2021.