Event Preview for the 2023 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships
An exciting squad of seven young Kiwi athletes has touched down in Israel where they’re set to represent New Zealand at the 2023 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships.
The New Zealand squad is:
Brooke Bennett (Vikings)
Isabelle Gibson (United)
Milan Glintmeyer (Kiwi West Aquatics)
Finn Harland (Capital)
Summer Osborne (North Shore)
Zoe Pedersen (Coast)
Monique Wieruszowski (Aquabladz)
Harland and Gibson return to the junior International scene after representing New Zealand at the Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Hawaii last year, while rising star Osborne will add another international meet to her growing resume after representing New Zealand in the 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka in July.
For Osborne a couple of early events in the program will lead into her most competitive race, the 200m Freestyle, over the final two days.
“I know there will be some fast swimmers at World Juniors but I’d love to make a final in the 200m Freestyle and swim a personal best time,” said Osborne.
“I’m really looking forward to joining up again with some of the Junior Pan Pacs team from Hawaii and getting to know the other girls better. We’re only a small team of seven swimmers - but we’ll be competitive!”
The athletes have just arrived in Israel following a training camp in Dubai, where they’ve had fantastic pool time at the Hamdan Sports Centre.
16-year-old Monique Wieruszowski says the preparation has the team feeling in solid form.
“Preparation in Dubai for World Junior's has been great, and I'm excited to compete alongside my teammates on the world stage next week,” said Wieruszowski.
“Having been able to train in a long course pool at the Hamdan Sports Centre has helped to prepare me for race week. I'm grateful to represent New Zealand and want to thank everyone who has helped me so far in my journey.”
Wieruszowski will be one of the athletes to watch at the World Juniors, in action in her favoured event, the 50m breaststroke on day one. The New Plymouth athlete is in hot form, setting a New Zealand record of 30.67s in the discipline in April this year.
The competition will be held in Netanya, Israel, from the 4th – 9th of September. Around 100 countries will be represented at the event with over 600 athletes competing across the six days of racing. The event is being held at the Wingate Institute, a facility purpose-built for hosting world-class international swimming events.
New Zealand has a strong history at the event, with a Kiwi Junior World Champion being crowned at every edition a New Zealand team has attended.
The New Zealand athletes will be supported by the highly experienced coach John Gatfield (Coast) and emerging coach Mariano Nani (Aquabladz). Auckland 1990 Commonwealth Games athlete Byron Reid will be leading the team with his past experience as an SNZ team manager and background working for NZ Police.
Stay tuned to our social media website for updates. You can watch the livestream via the World Aquatics Recast channel. Heats sessions get underway at 6.30pm NZST and finals from 3am NZST.
New Zealand Team Schedule
Day One:
Women’s 50m Breaststroke - Monique Wieruszowski
Women’s 100m Backstroke - Izzie Gibson
Women’s 100m Backstroke - Milan Glintmeyer
Men’s 100m Backstroke - Finn Harland
Day Two:
Women’s 100m Freestyle - Zoe Pedersen
Women’s 100m Freestyle - Summer Osborne
Women’s 800m Freestyle - Brooke Bennett
Day Three:
Men’s 50m Backstroke - Finn Harland
Women’s 100m Breaststroke - Monique Wieruszowski
Women’s 200m Backstroke - Izzie Gibson
Women’s 50m Butterfly – Zoe Pedersen
Day Four:
Women’s 50m Backstroke - Izzie Gibson
Women’s 50m Backstroke - Milan Glintmeyer
Day Five:
Women’s 100m Butterfly - Milan Glintmeyer
Women’s 50m Freestyle - Zoe Pedersen
Women’s 50m Freestyle - Summer Osborne
Women’s 1500m Freestyle - Brooke Bennett
Day Six:
Men’s 200m Backstroke - Finn Harland
Women’s 200m Freestyle - Summer Osborne
Women’s 200m Freestyle - Brooke Bennett
