Hungary Tops the Medal Table at the 2022 World Junior OW Championships

2022 FINA WORLD JUNIOR OPEN WATER SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

With the mixed-gender relays on Sunday concluded the 2022 FINA World Junior Open Water Swimming Championships, setting the medals table for this year’s meet.

Hungary and the United States both earned four gold medals, but with three bronze medals as well, Hungary topped the medal table and earned the Teams trophy. FINA describes the trophy as a recognition that “open water swimming takes a team – not only at the races but especially when putting in the many kilometers swimming and hours doing dryland and weight room work together, as a team.”

Full Medal Standings

Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
Hungary 4 0 3 7
United States 4 0 0 4
Italy 0 2 2 4
Germany 0 2 1 3
Turkey 0 2 1 3
Spain 0 1 1 2
Mexico 0 1 0 1

The Hungarians were powered by Bettina Fabian and David Betlehemwho each won gold in the 10K races and were part of the winning 17-18 4×1500 mixed relay.

Gabor Gellert, the Hungarian national team captain, talked afterwards about how much the trophy means to the group. “We have been waiting a long time to finally finish at the top of the medal table and in the points competition at a FINA World Junior Championships after the European Championships,” he said. “So far, we have been second twice, but now everything has come together: we have never won four more golds, and it has never happened that all twelve of our competitors took at least a sixth-place either individually or in relays. All of this shows that we have a very serious team.”

At the 2018 edition of FINA World Junior Open Water Championships, the United States topped the medal table, and Hungary tied 4th with Italy. There, Hungary won only one gold in the mixed event.

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Uncle Argyle
1 year ago

Believe FINA just pulled the 25k from 2023 worlds….constant disappointment.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

Blame the male contingent of USA Swimming not the female contingent:

Girls
5 k – 1st, 18th
7.5 k – 1st, 4th
10 k – 4th, 8th

Boys
5 k – 1st, 9th
7.5 k – 12th, DNF
10 k – 7th, 27th

Quincy
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

Calm down. US needn’t be on top in everything. There’s nothing to blame for 4 golds.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Quincy
1 year ago

As for the fourth gold medal, the Italian boys blew away the American boys in the mixed 4 x 1500 meter open water relay (14 – 16).

Quincy
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

So? What’s wrong with Italian boys being stronger than American boys in open water? It’s nothing shocking for the country that brought up distance aces like Paltrinieri, Detti, Acerenza (World silver medalist and European champion in open water) & young guns like Galossi.

SHRKB8
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

Why “blame” anyone? Great swims team USA, just better swims team Hungary. Hats off to all of them really.

About Sophie Kaufman

Sophie Kaufman

Sophie grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, which means yes, she does root for the Bruins, but try not to hold that against her. At 9, she joined her local club team because her best friend convinced her it would be fun. Shoulder surgery ended her competitive swimming days long ago, …

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