U.S. Finishes 7th World Junior Championships with 37 Medals, Including 18 Gold
The United States closed out the 7th FINA World Junior Championships Sunday in Budapest with nine medals – five gold, three silver and a bronze.
The Americans finished 1-2 in two events. First, Wyatt Davis and Carson Foster gold and silver in the men’s 200m backstroke in 1:58.18 and 1:58.47.
Then, Gretchen Walsh and Maxine Parker went 1-2 in the women’s 50m freestyle in 24.71 and 24.75.
It was the first of two gold medals for Walsh on the final night of competition. She also won gold swimming the anchor of the women’s 400m medley relay. She and teammates Claire Curzan, Kaitlyn Dobler and Torri Huske touched first in that event in 3:59.13.
Walsh finished the meet with six gold medals to lead all American swimmers.
Huske also won two gold medals Sunday. In addition to the relay, she and teammate Claire Curzan went 1-3 in the women’s 100m fly, turning in times of 57.71 and 58.37.
Huske finished the meet with six medals overall – five gold and a silver.
Luca Urlando also struck gold for the Americans Sunday, winning the men’s 200m butterfly in 1:55.02. Urlando won five gold medals over the course of the meet, leading all U.S. men.
The American men’s 400m medley relay swam faster than the former world junior record of 3:35.17, but was out-touched by Russia for the gold. Will Grant, Josh Matheny, Blake Manoff and Adam Chaney touched in 3:33.66, almost a half second behind Russia, which took gold in 3:33.19
The final medal count for the U.S. in Budapest was 37 – 18 gold, 10 silver and nine bronze.