Glintmeyer Through to Final After Strong Opening Day in Romania
- dale493
- 47 minutes ago
- 7 min read
Day One Wrap of the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships
The New Zealand team got off to a record-breaking start in Otopeni, Romania. Milan Glintmeyer led the way with two New Zealand age records to qualify through to the final, with Ariel Muchirahondo (Swim Rotorua) also breaking his own New Zealand age record. James Leigh (Coast & Marist) also produced a massive personal best to highlight the first day of action at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships.
Glintmeyer made her return to the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in the women’s 100m backstroke. The 17-year-old was in lane six of the final heat in the morning session, and got off to a good start going deep in the underwater. She surfaced alongside the leaders and was part of the bunch at halfway to turn fifth. An excellent turn and underwater saw her come up in second place before finishing strongly in third (1:01.07) behind the American duo of Charlotte Crush (USA – 59.82) and Julie Mishler (USA – 1:01.04). Glintmeyer out-touched local Daria-Mariuca Silisteanu (Romania – 1:01.08) in what was a close finish. Glintmeyer comfortably qualified through to the semi-final as the equal ninth fastest, breaking the 17 years New Zealand age record that was set by Bobbi Gichard in 2017.
In the semi-final, Glintmeyer utilised her underwater skills to have another good start in lane two of the first semi-final. She was with the lead pack through the opening lap and turned in third place at halfway. She worked the underwater to maintain her position off the wall. Glintmeyer surged through the field to challenge for the lead in the dying stages, with the top five in a tight bunch at the finish. Glintmeyer got her hand on the wall in equal third (1:00.56), just marginally behind Kim Seungwon (Korea – 1:00.46) and local Aissia Claudia Prisecariu (Romania – 1:00.50), and alongside Milana Stepanova (Neutral Athletes – 1:00.56). Glintmeyer's result marked a new personal best, lowering the 17 years New Zealand age record she had set in the heats. Glintmeyer qualified through to the final as the seventh fastest swimmer.
Glintmeyer was thrilled to qualify through to her first individual final of the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships.
“I was really proud to be going into the semis today. I'm so happy I could put together a really good swim when I needed to. I'm so stoked to be representing the fern in the final tomorrow night.”
Glintmeyer will return to the pool for the final in the evening session of day two, where she will swim from lane one at approximately 4:06am NZST on Thursday.
In the 400m freestyle, Leigh got the team off to a cracking start, with the James Boyce coached swimmer slashing his personal best. Swimming from lane three of the sixth heat, Leigh was with the leaders from the start, turning third at the 50m mark. He moved into second place at the 100m turn, closing the gap on the early leader. Leigh continued to surge through the field, taking the lead on the third lap and wasn’t sighted from there. He extended his lead at every turn during the remaining five laps of the race to take out the heat by nearly five seconds. Leigh (3:55.55) set a new personal best by more than three seconds. He finished in 19th place overall, a significant improvement upon his seeding heading into the competition.
Leigh was thrilled with his performance on his first major appearance on the international stage.
“I was super happy with my first swim today. It felt really strong throughout the whole race. The first 200m was really smooth and I just tried to work the rest of the race. It’s amazing to see my training fall into place and pay off. I loved racing under the fern and the atmosphere of World Juniors is electric. I’m very excited to see how my 200m freestyle goes tomorrow.”
Leigh will return to the competition pool on day two for the men’s 200m freestyle.
Muchirahondo continued his fine form in the first of his events in Romania, setting a personal best time and NZ age record in the men’s 100m backstroke. Swimming from lane four of the sixth heat, Muchirahondo had a good start to be with the leaders at the 25m and third at the only turn. A good underwater saw him close the gap during the third 25m before finishing strongly to touch second in the heat, just 0.07 seconds behind the winner Adrian Van Wyk (South Africa – 56.44). Muchirahondo (56.51) went under his personal best from earlier this year at the 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships and broke his own 16 years NZ age record in the process. He placed 25th overall.
Muchirahondo loved the opportunity to race at the level for the first time.
“It was great fun and I could tell I was ready to go when my hands were shaking with nerves. Moments like that are what I live for and I’m looking forward to the next race.”
Muchirahondo will be back in action on day two in the men’s 200m individual medley.
Monique Wieruszowski (North Shore) made her first appearance of the championships in the women’s 50m breaststroke. Swimming from lane five of the sixth heat, the reigning silver medallist didn’t have the best start to be behind the leaders at the halfway mark. She finished seventh in the heat outside of her best (32.48) to finish 21st overall.
Wieruszowski will return on day three for the women’s 100m breaststroke.
Day Two Preview
Day two of action from Otopeni will see Muchirahondo return for the men’s 200m individual medley. Aquablack #293 Zoe Pedersen (Coast) will make her first appearance of the championships, where she enters as the 15th fastest seed in the women’s 100m freestyle. Alyssa Lawson (Hamilton Aquatics & St Andrew’s) will join her in the women’s 100m freestyle as she makes her first appearance on the international stage. Leigh returns after his big personal best on day one to take on the men’s 200m freestyle. Glintmeyer will return in the evening session for her women’s 100m backstroke final.
The heats session start at 6.30pm NZST and finals from 3am NZST the following morning.
You can stay up-to-date with the action by following our social media channels for updates and our website for day wraps of the action taking place in Romania.
You can watch the livestream through the World Aquatics Recast platform by purchasing access from the link below.
We have provided an overview of the action taking place in each of the remaining days in the daily schedule below. We have also listed the entries and results for each athlete and the team selected to ensure you know everything ahead of the competition in Romania.
Daily Schedule
*Start times are subject to change, while semi-finals and finals are subject to athlete progression
Wednesday 20 August
Day Two Heats – from 6.30pm NZST
Men’s 200m individual medley (Muchirahondo)
Women’s 100m freestyle (Pedersen & Lawson)
Men’s 100m butterfly (Kregting)
Men’s 200m freestyle (Leigh)
Thursday 21 August
Day Two Semis/Finals (Potential) – from 3am NZST
Men’s 200m freestyle final (Leigh*)
Men’s 100m butterfly semi-final (Kregting*)
Women’s 100m freestyle semi-final (Pedersen* & Lawson*)
Women’s 100m backstroke final (Glintmeyer)
Men’s 200m individual medley final (Muchirahondo*)
Day Three Heats – from 6.30pm NZST
Women’s 50m butterfly (Pedersen)
Women’s 100m breaststroke (Wieruszowski)
Men’s 50m freestyle (Russanov)
Men’s 800m freestyle timed final (Leigh)
Friday 22 August
Day Three Semis/Finals (Potential) – from 3am NZST
Women’s 50m butterfly semi-final (Pedersen*)
Men’s 50m freestyle semi-final (Russanov*)
Men’s 100m butterfly final (Kregting*)
Women’s 100m breaststroke semi-final (Wieruszowski*)
Women’s 100m freestyle final (Pedersen* & Lawson*)
Day Four Heats – from 6.30pm NZST
Women’s 50m backstroke (Glintmeyer)
Men’s 50m butterfly (Kregting)
Women’s 400m freestyle (Tapper)
Saturday 23 August
Day Four Semis/Finals (Potential) – from 3am NZST
Women’s 50m backstroke semi-final (Glintmeyer*)
Women’s 50m butterfly final (Pedersen*)
Women’s 100m breaststroke final (Wieruszowski*)
Men’s 50m butterfly semi-final (Kregting*)
Women’s 400m freestyle final (Tapper*)
Men’s 50m freestyle final (Russanov*)
Day Five Heats – from 6.30pm NZST
Men’s 100m freestyle (Russanov)
Women’s 100m butterfly (Glintmeyer)
Men’s 400m individual medley (Muchirahondo)
Women’s 50m freestyle (Pedersen & Lawson)
Sunday 24 August
Day Five Semis/Finals (Potential) – from 3am NZST
Men’s 100m freestyle semi-final (Russanov*)
Women’s 100m butterfly semi-final (Glintmeyer*)
Men’s 50m butterfly final (Kregting*)
Women’s 50m freestyle semi-final (Pedersen* & Lawson*)
Women’s 50m backstroke final (Glintmeyer*)
Men’s 400m individual medley final (Muchirahondo*)
Day Six Heats – from 6.30pm NZST
Men’s 200m backstroke (Muchirahondo)
Women’s 200m breaststroke (Wieruszowski)
Men’s 200m butterfly (Muchirahondo & Kregting)
Women’s 200m freestyle (Tapper)
Women’s 4 x 100m medley relay
Monday 25 August
Day Six Finals (Potential) – from 3am NZST
Men’s 100m freestyle final (Russanov*)
Women’s 200m breaststroke final (Wieruszowski*)
Men’s 200m backstroke final (Muchirahondo*)
Women’s 100m butterfly final (Glintmeyer*)
Women’s 50m freestyle final (Pedersen* & Lawson*)
Men’s 200m butterfly final (Muchirahondo* & Kregting*)
Women’s 200m freestyle final (Tapper*)
Women’s 4 x 100m medley relay*
Swimmer Entries & Results
Milan Glintmeyer
Women’s 50m backstroke (entry time: 28.83)
Women’s 100m backstroke (result: into final, 1:00.56 in semi-final - PB and 17 years NZ age record, 1:01.07 in heat - 17 years NZ age record)
Women’s 100m butterfly (entry time: 1:00.16)
Daniel Kregting
Men’s 50m butterfly (entry time: 25.59)
Men’s 100m butterfly (entry time: 56.41)
Men’s 200m butterfly (entry time: 2:02.55)
Alyssa Lawson
Women’s 50m freestyle (entry time: 26.03)
Women’s 100m freestyle (entry time: 56.55)
James Leigh
Men’s 200m freestyle (entry time: 1:52.08)
Men’s 400m freestyle (result: 3:55.55 - 19th overall - PB)
Men’s 800m freestyle (entry time: 8:19.61)
Ariel Muchirahondo
Men’s 100m backstroke (result: 56.51 - 25th overall - PB and 16 years NZ age record)
Men’s 200m backstroke (entry time: 2:01.89)
Men’s 200m butterfly (entry time: 2:06.30)
Men’s 200m individual medley (entry time: 2:07.99)
Men’s 400m individual medley (entry time: 4:24.46)
Zoe Pedersen
Women’s 50m freestyle (entry time: 25.43)
Women’s 100m freestyle (entry time: 55.39)
Women’s 50m butterfly (entry time: 26.15)
Igor Russanov
Men’s 50m freestyle (entry time: 23.02)
Men’s 100m freestyle (entry time: 50.64)
Alyssa Tapper
Women’s 200m freestyle (entry time: 2:02.58)
Women’s 400m freestyle (entry time: 4:15.76)
Monique Wieruszowski
Women’s 50m breaststroke (result: 32.48 - 21st overall)
Women’s 100m breaststroke (entry time: 1:09.49)
Women’s 200m breaststroke (entry time: 2:31.92)
Women’s 4 x 100m medley relay (no entry time)
Athletes and order TBC
Team Selected
The swimmers selected to represent New Zealand:
Name | Club | Coach | Role |
Milan Glintmeyer | Coast | John Gatfield | Swimmer |
Daniel Kregting | Roskill | Josh Munro | Swimmer |
Alyssa Lawson | Hamilton Aquatics & St Andrew's | Brad Hillier | Swimmer |
James Leigh | Coast & Marist | James Boyce | Swimmer |
Ariel Muchirahondo | Swim Rotorua | Aidan Withington | Swimmer |
Zoe Pedersen | Coast | John Gatfield | Swimmer |
Igor Russanov | Coast | John Gatfield | Swimmer |
Alyssa Tapper | St Peter's & Griffith University | Tom Fraser-Holmes | Swimmer |
Monique Wieruszowski | North Shore | Graham Hill | Swimmer |
The coaches and support staff selected to guide our New Zealand are:
Name | Organisation | Role |
John Gatfield | Coast | Head Coach |
Aidan Withington | Swim Rotorua | Assistant Coach |
Amanda White | Swimming NZ | Team Manager |
