Competition Preview – 2024 World Aquatics Open Water Swimming Junior World Championships
Our New Zealand team have arrived in Alghero, Italy, for the 2024 World Aquatics Junior Open Water Swimming Championships.
New Zealand will be represented by four swimmers in Italy, each of whom performed strongly at the 2023 NSW Open Water Championships in December last year, placing in the top three of their respective age groups. Each team member also placed in the top two of their age band earlier this year at the 2024 Orangetheory NZ Open Water Swimming Championships.
We look forward to cheering on Alex Dunkley (Roskill), Larn Hamblyn-Ough (Coast), Sophie Hay (Hamilton Aquatics & RPC Waikato) and Jack Potier (Coast) as our New Zealand swimmers taking on the stunning waters on the west coast of Sardinia. The team will be led and coached by Mat Woofe (Hamilton Aquatics & RPC Waikato).
Each has some exposure to swimming in international waters, with all four part of our team that raced in Penrith last December. Larn Hamblyn-Ough also competed in the pool at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games, so he will be looking to use his experience on the international stage to help the team with their final preparations.
Coach Mat Woofe is looking forward to seeing the team in action.
“I’m excited to lead an up-and-coming team in the open water. The team looked sharp racing at the recent 2024 Apollo Projects NZ Short Course Swimming Championships and are primed to mix it with the best in the world. I feel like the team have a chance to put forward some strong performances.”
The racing begins on Thursday 5 September from 7pm NZST with the men's 10km (open to 18 - 19 year olds). There are 47 swimmers from across the world entered to be at the start line. Reigning national champion Alex Dunkley (Roskill) will be hoping to continue his dominant streak of open water swimming as he takes on the best in the world. Fresh off national short course titles in the 800m and 1500m freestyle events, Larn Hamblyn-Ough (Coast) will be joining Dunkley on the start line as the pair look to resume their open water battles alongside the best juniors from around the globe.
The following day will see Sophie Hay (Hamilton Aquatics & RPC Waikato) take on the women's 7.5km (open to 15 - 17 year olds). Showing excellent form as the national short course champion over 1500m, Hay will be ready to battle it out as one of 48 swimmers across the distance. Jack Potier (Coast) will be tackling the men's 7.5km (open to 15 - 17 year olds) on the same day. Potier will be looking forward to racing his 49 fellow competitors, having been selected but unable to compete at the 2021 edition of the championships as it was cancelled during the Covid-19 pandemic. Day two action will be live from 7pm NZST on Friday 6 September.
The third day of competition will see the 3km Knockout Sprint. This event is new to the World Junior Open Water Championships programme, acting as the skins of open water and consisting of three rounds. The first leg is 1500m, the second leg is 1000m and the final leg 500m. Heats will take place for the first round, with only 50% of each heat progressing through to the next round. The men's event will feature Alex Dunkley (Roskill) and Larn Hamblyn-Ough (Coast), while Sophie Hay (Hamilton Aquatics & RPC Waikato) will take on the women's event. Live action will be available from 7pm NZST on Saturday 7 September.
Best of luck to our New Zealand team as they complete their final preparations ahead of racing getting under way on Thursday evening.
World Aquatics will be streaming the championships live and free on their YouTube channel. Make sure you follow Swimming NZ on our social media channels to stay up-to-date on all the action from the picturesque ancient town of Alghero, located in Sardinia, Italy.
New Zealand Team
Name | Organisation | Selection |
Alex Dunkley | Roskill | Swimmer |
Larn Hamblyn-Ough | Coast | Swimmer |
Sophie Hay | Hamilton Aquatics & RPC Waikato | Swimmer |
Jack Potier | Coast | Swimmer |
Mat Woofe | Hamilton Aquatics & RPC Waikato | Coach |
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