Pedersen Breaks Another New Zealand Age Record

Day Five Wrap of the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships

Zoe Pedersen (Coast) was once again the standout performer for the New Zealand team on the penultimate day of racing at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Romania. The teenager broke another 18 years New Zealand age record in the semi-finals of the women’s 50m freestyle. Club teammate Igor Russanov (Coast) also produced a personal best during the heats of the men’s 100m freestyle.

Zoe Pedersen returned to the competition pool fresh from her World Junior Champion title in the 50m butterfly the previous night to race in the women’s 50m freestyle. Racing from lane six of the eleventh heat, she got away to a good start to be with the leaders in the centre lanes at halfway. She continued motoring down the pool to touch third in the heat (25.48) behind Theodora Taylor (Great Britain – 25.12) and Jana Pavalic (Croatia – 25.19). Pedersen progressed through from the heats for the third consecutive time of these championships as the tenth fastest qualifier for the semi-finals.

In the evening session, Pedersen started from lane two of the second semi-final. Pedersen got away to a good start and surfaced quickly to get into her stroke. The centre lanes were in the lead by the halfway point with Pedersen challenging on their outside. Pedersen continued strongly to finish fifth on the wall (25.43) and improve from her heats swim. Rylee Erisman (USA – 24.69) was first to the wall ahead of Jana Pavalic (24.79), Annam Olasewere (USA – 24.94) and Martine Damborg (Denmark – 25.34). Pedersen’s time was the equal third fastest of her career and saw her break the 18 years New Zealand age record that she had set earlier in the year, improving the mark by 0.01 seconds. Overall, Pedersen placed tenth in the event and will be the second reserve for the final.

Pedersen was happy with her performances across the week which saw her feature in the evening session for four consecutive days in Romania.

“It was a long day today after an epic previous night but I'm proud to have backed up a podium swim with with a heat and then a semi so close to my personal best. Can't complain with 10th in the world. We aren't done yet, saving the most fun for the last day with the team relay.”

That semi-final completed Pedersen’s individual campaign, but she will return on the final day of competition for the butterfly in the women’s 4 x 100m medley relay.

Igor Russanov returned to competition for his second event of these championships, taking on the men’s 100m freestyle. The 18-year-old swam from lane eight of the eleventh heat, getting off to a fast start to be pushing the pace through the opening 25m. Russanov surged to the lead by halfway and had established a half body length lead by the 75m mark, before the centre lanes closed hard with Russanov touching in fourth (50.52). Koppany Kakuk (Hungary – 50.00), Francis Brennan (Canada – 50.23) and Eric Stefan Andries (Romania – 50.36) took the top three placings in the heat. The time was a personal best for Russanov, bettering his performance from earlier in the year at the 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships. The result secured him an equal 30th place overall.

After the race, Russanov shared an insight into what has motivated him on the international stage.

“Swim through the challenges, never give up, and let the waves of success carry you forward.”

That concludes Russanov’s programme in Otopeni, finishing with a personal best performance on the biggest stage of his career to date.

Alyssa Lawson (Hamilton Aquatics & St Andrew’s) also competed in the women’s 50m freestyle. She started from lane zero in the last of the seeded heats getting away to a solid start from the blocks. The pace was set across the middle of the pool, with Lawson getting her hand on the wall in ninth (26.28). She placed 25th overall with her sixth best time of her career.

That event concluded Lawson’s individual campaign in Romania. However, she will return on the final day of competition as the freestyle anchor leg of the women’s 4 x 100m medley relay.

Ariel Muchirahondo (Swim Rotorua) returned for the third event of his programme, taking on the longest of his programme – the men’s 400m individual medley. Swimming from lane zero of the second last heat, Muchirahondo got away smoothly and settled into his butterfly stroke, turning in fifth at the end of the first lap. He moved into third by the end of the butterfly leg (57.52 split). He continued to move through the field during the backstroke to pull up alongside the early leader Raito Numata (Japan – 4:16.96) and be second at the halfway point (1:06.36 split). Most of the field made their move during the breaststroke laps, with Muchirahondo turning in third at 250m and sixth at the final transition (1:19.57 split). Muchirahondo finished the freestyle leg to touch in tenth (4:30.48) outside his best time to finish 25th overall.

Muchirahondo has two events remaining for the final day of competition, where he will battle the men’s 200m backstroke before returning for the men’s 200m butterfly later in the session.

Milan Glintmeyer (Coast) was back in action for a different stroke than her earlier events, this time competing in the women’s 100m butterfly. The 17-year-old swam from lane one of the sixth heat, getting into her work from the dive at the top of the pool. The centre lanes pushed the pace from the onset, with Glintmeyer turning in ninth at halfway. Glintmeyer rallied on the second lap to touch ninth in the heat (1:01.76). Charlotte Crush (USA – 58.00) controlled the race throughout to comfortably be first on the wall in the heat. Glintmeyer finished the event placed 33rd overall.

That concludes the individual programme for Glintmeyer in Romania after her record-breaking performances in the backstroke events. However, she will return on the final day of competition as the backstroke swimmer for the women’s 4 x 100m medley relay.

Day Six Preview

Muchirahondo has a busy schedule on the final day of competition, taking on the men’s 200m backstroke and then the men’s 200m butterfly, with Daniel Kregting (Roskill) also racing the latter. Monique Wieruszowski (North Shore) competes in the longest of her individual events, the women’s 200m breaststroke. Alyssa Tapper (St Peter’s & Griffith University) tackles the women’s 200m freestyle. The women’s 4 x 100m medley relay team will round out the New Zealand campaign, with the team consisting of Milan Glintmeyer (backstroke), Monique Wieruszowski (breaststroke), Zoe Pedersen (butterfly) and Alyssa Lawson (freestyle).

The heats session starts at the earlier time of 6pm NZST for the final day of racing 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.

Entries & Results

You can watch the livestream through the World Aquatics Recast platform by purchasing access from the link below.

Watch Here

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

Sunday 24 August

Day Six Heats – from 6pm 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 (Glintmeyer, Wieruszowski, Pedersen & Lawson)

Monday 25 August

Day Six Finals (Potential) – from 3am NZST

• Women’s 200m breaststroke final (Wieruszowski*)

• Men’s 200m backstroke final (Muchirahondo*)

• Men’s 200m butterfly final (Muchirahondo* & Kregting*)

• Women’s 200m freestyle final (Tapper*)

• Women’s 4 x 100m medley relay (Glintmeyer*, Wieruszowski*, Pedersen* & Lawson*)

Swimmer Entries & Results

Milan Glintmeyer

• Women’s 50m backstroke (result: 28.35 in semi-final - 9th overall - PB and 17 years NZ age record, 28.52 in heat - PB and 17 years NZ age record)

• Women’s 100m backstroke (result: 8th in final - 1:00.90, 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 (result: 1:01.76 - 33rd overall)

• Women's 4 x 100m medley relay

Daniel Kregting

• Men’s 50m butterfly (result: 25.63 - 52nd overall)

• Men’s 100m butterfly (result: 55.43 - 33rd overall - PB)

• Men’s 200m butterfly (entry time: 2:02.55)

Alyssa Lawson

• Women’s 50m freestyle (result: 26.28 - 25th overall)

• Women’s 100m freestyle (result: 56.93 - 28th overall)

• Women's 4 x 100m medley relay

James Leigh

• Men’s 200m freestyle (result: 1:51.04 - 21st overall - PB)

• Men’s 400m freestyle (result: 3:55.55 - 19th overall - PB)

• Men’s 800m freestyle (result: 8:13.96 - 22nd overall - PB)

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 (result: 2:04.70 - 24th overall)

• Men’s 400m individual medley (result: 4:30.48 - 25th overall)

Zoe Pedersen

• Women’s 50m freestyle (result: 25.43 in semi-final - 10th overall - 18 years NZ age record, 25.48 in heat)

• Women’s 100m freestyle (result: 8th in final - 55.06, 55.03 in semi-final - PB and 18 years NZ age record, 55.16 in heat - PB and 18 years NZ age record)

• Women’s 50m butterfly (result: Gold Medal - 25.63 in final - PB and 18 years NZ age record, 25.79 in semi-final - PB and 18 years NZ age record, 26.17 in heat)

• Women's 4 x 100m medley relay

Igor Russanov

• Men’s 50m freestyle (result: 23.29 - 29th overall)

• Men’s 100m freestyle (result: 50.52 - 30th overall - PB)

Alyssa Tapper

• Women’s 200m freestyle (entry time: 2:02.58)

• Women’s 400m freestyle (result: 4:16.55 - 14th overall)

Monique Wieruszowski

• Women’s 50m breaststroke (result: 32.48 - 21st overall)

• Women’s 100m breaststroke (result: 5th in final - 1:08.65 - 18 years NZ age record, 1:09.01 in semi-final - 18 years NZ age record, 1:09.69 in heat - 18 years NZ age record at 50m split - 31.80)

• Women’s 200m breaststroke (entry time: 2:31.92)

• Women's 4 x 100m medley relay

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