Coming into the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, there was some confusion as to what exactly the Junior World Record was in the 100 free. The official record by FINA was a 54.47 by Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey. China’s Shen Duo was a 54.15 at Chinese Nationals, which FINA didn’t put on its list for this meet (they didn’t put many potential Junior World Records from that meet on the list).
Then Shen swam a 54.44 in the prelims of the 100 free, creating even more uncertainty as to whether that was a record-breaking swim or not.
No matter, the 17-year old, born June 9th, 1997, erased all doubt with a 53.84 in the finals of the women’s 100 free, breaking all of the potential Junior World Records done since April 1 of this year.
The fastest Junior time we know of is still a 53.03 done by Australian Cate Campbell, though that was many years before FINA started recognizing the records.
Shen was out in 26.40 and back in 27.44. That last 50 is the same speed at which Cate Campbell finished her race to win the World Championship last year, though Duo will need to do a lot of work on her front-half to compete for a medal at that level (Campbell was out in 24.8 – the fastest starter in the championship final).
Haughey, the former official record holder, was 2nd in 54.61.
They are very fast on Wikipedia to update these stupid world junior records. 🙂
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Junior_world_records_in_swimming#Records
Real world junior record is, as you said, 53.03 by Cate Campbell.
I still don’t understand what was in the mind of Fina?
It was so simple to take the fastest times ever swum until age 18 for boys and girls.
But no, of course, they have decided to not choose the simplicity.
And it’s unfair for all the champions who are the true record holders.
what about Simone Manuel’s 53.60 from nationals? 18 at the time.
Simone Manuel born August 2, 1996.
To be the junior world record holder (girls’ event) this year, you must still 17 years old at 31 December 2014. So, she’s not eligible for this JWR.