World Aquatics announces Netanya, Israel, as host of the World Junior Swimming Championships 2023

 

Over 600 promising athletes from more than 100 National Federations are expected to compete in the premier international event for junior swimmers

LAUSANNE – The Mediterranean resort city of Netanya, Israel, will host the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships from 4-9 September 2023. Over 600 promising young swimmers from more than 100 National Federations are expected to compete.

The six-day competition will take place in the Wingate Institute, a facility purpose-built for hosting world-class international swimming events. The venue, Israel's National Centre for Physical Education and Sport, includes a 50m competition and 50m training pool.

Located just 30 kilometres up the northern coast from Tel Aviv, Netanya and the competition venue make for an ideal location for teams and fans.

Israel’s Olympic swimmer and double gold medallist at the World Swimming Championships (25m) Abu Dhabi 2021, Anastasia Gorbenko expressed delight in hearing that her country will host this prestigious World Aquatics event for the first time. 

“Coming from Israel, it’s pretty cool to hear that Netanya will hold the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships,” Gorbenko said. “I take pride in hearing that my country will host this major event. 

“As a junior swimmer, I was focused on getting faster, seeing where I stack up against the world’s best at your same age and travelling the globe. What is even better is the opportunity to show your friends and competitors the place where you call home. I’m sure the athletes will enjoy competing in Netanya as well as find some fun outside the pool in this beautiful, sports-loving city.”

The most recent edition of the World Junior Swimming Championships was held last year in Lima, Peru. The event saw a number of world-class performances which included athletes setting nine new World Junior Swimming Championship records and one World Junior Record in the Peruvian capital.

Among those carving their names into the record books were reigning 200m freestyle World Record holder David Popovici of Romania, setting a Championship Record in the same event and Diogo Matos Ribeiro of Portugal, securing a World Junior Record in the 50m butterfly. 

The World Aquatics World Junior Swimming Championships were first held in 2006 in Rio de Janeiro (BRA). Subsequent editions of the biennial event followed in Monterrey (MEX) in 2008; Lima (PER) in 2011; Dubai (UAE) in 2013; Singapore (SGP) in 2015; Indianapolis (USA) in 2017; Budapest (HUN) in 2019; and Lima (PER) in 2022.

Editor’s Note: The World Aquatics World Junior Swimming Championships were previously known as the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships. The World Aquatics World Swimming Championships (25m) were formerly called the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m).