Minna Atherton Breaks Own Junior World Record with 59.34 100 Back

Mitch Bowmile contributed to this report. 

Today in finals of the 100 back at the 2016 Swimming Australia Grand Prix in Brisbane, Minna Atherton took down her own FINA Junior World Record in the 100 back, swimming the event in 59.34.

See the live results of the 2016 Swimming Australia Grand Prix here.

The 16-year-old cut .03 from her previous mark, a 59.37 set at the Queensland Championships in December.

Today, Atherton first tied the mark at the Junior World Championships in Singapore, going 59.58. Less than a month earlier, American Claire Adams had also been 59.58 at the U.S. National Championships. Atherton ultimately eked out the Junior World title over Adams in Singapore. See the Junior World Record progression below:

Atherton finished second at the meet behind this season’s fastest-swimmer-in-the-world Emily Seebohm, who swam her race in 59.20.

Atherton holds her spot at eighth in the world rankings.

2015-2016 LCM Women 100 BACK

EmilyAUS
SEEBOHM
11/03
58.34
2Katinka
HOSSZU
HUN58.4508/08
3Mie
NIELSEN
DEN58.7305/19
4Kathleen
BAKER
USA58.7508/08
5Kylie
MASSE
CAN58.7608/08
5Yuanhui
FU
CHN58.7608/08
7olivia
SMOLIGA
USA58.9508/08
8Madison
WILSON
USA59.0308/07
View Top 26»

She should have another year and a half to keep chipping away at the record. FINA determines ages for its Junior World Records based on December 31st of the year – so the 16-year-old Atherton will turn 17 next year, and only in the year 2018 will she officially age up, meaning all her swims that year will be considered to be at the senior level, per FINA’s definition.

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bobo gigi
8 years ago

My goodness, she’s gonna be tough to beat on backstroke in the next few years. The next Seebohm for Australia.

SeanSwimmer
Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

Don’t forget about Madison Wilson ????

About Hannah Hecht

Hannah Hecht

Hannah Hecht grew up in Kansas and spent most of her childhood trying to convince coaches to let her swim backstroke in freestyle sets. She took her passion to Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and swam at NAIA Nationals all four years. After graduating in 2015, she moved to …

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