Un nouveau record de Suisse pour clôturer les championnats du monde de natation

 

Clôture réussie des Championnats du monde de natation au Japon

Lors de la dernière journée de compétition des World Aquatics Championships à Fukuoka, il ne restait plus qu'une dernière course au programme pour la Suisse : le relais 4x100m 4 nages hommes. Composé de Roman Mityukov, Jérémy Desplanches, Noè Ponti et Antonio Djakovic, il réunissait les meilleurs nageurs dans leurs spécialités respectives. Ils ont fait une course solide et ont terminé en 3:35.46, ce qui signifie un nouveau record de Suisse, le quatrième pour l'équipe suisse à ces championnats du monde. Cela leur a permis d'obtenir la 15e place.

La Suisse termine donc ces championnats avec 3 qualifications pour la finale, qui ont permis à Antonio Djakovic et Noè Ponti de se classer 6e et 7e, et à Roman Mityukov de remporter la médaille de bronze. En outre, 9 demi-finales ont été atteintes et 4 records de Suisse ont été battus. Avec Antonio Djakovic sur 400 m nage libre et Roman Mityukov sur 100 m dos, deux autres limites pour la qualification à Paris 2024 ont été franchies, l'un des objectifs déclarés de ces championnats du monde. De plus, les relais ont également une bonne chance de remplir les exigences pour les Jeux de l'année prochaine grâce à leurs performances.

La médaille de bronze de Roman Mityukov comme point fort

Après la clôture de ces championnats, le chef du sport de performance Markus Buck tire également un bilan positif. D'après les chiffres, ces championnats comptent parmi les plus réussis que la Suisse ait jamais connus. Néanmoins, tout ce que l'on s'était fixé n'a pas fonctionné. Les attentes étaient très élevées. Toute l'équipe va maintenant se réunir et voir où il faut encore faire des ajustements pour pouvoir encore mieux performer aux Jeux olympiques de Paris.  Il est également réjouissant de constater que l'équipe a pu se maintenir parmi l'élite mondiale grâce aux finales et à la médaille, et que cette élite s'est élargie. "Entre-temps, chez les hommes, nous n'avons plus seulement un, mais quatre leaders d'équipe". Chez les femmes, il n'y en a cependant actuellement qu'une seule. Ainsi, la pression peut également être répartie sur plusieurs épaules. Si l'un des leaders ne peut pas fournir la performance souhaitée, un autre prend le relais, ce qu'a fait Roman Mityukov ici au Japon. Malheureusement, Noè Ponti n'a pas été à la hauteur de ses propres attentes très élevées, mais aussi de celles de l'ensemble du monde de la natation. Il se plaint à un niveau très élevé ! Si l'on considère l'incroyable potentiel dont il dispose sur les distances de papillon, on pouvait espérer mieux. Pour Markus Buck, il est possible que Noè ait ressenti la pression pour la première fois en faisant ses premiers pas dans ce stade et qu'il n'ait pas encore la routine pour gérer cette pression. Mais ce qui est bien, c'est qu'il est revenu à lui pendant le championnat et qu'il a trouvé un moyen de gérer tout cela. Cela se voit aussi au fait qu'il s'est comporté très différemment sur le 100 m papillon. L'équipe d'entraîneurs et Noè analyseront ensuite en détail le fait que cela n'ait pas suffi pour réaliser un exploit.

Les deux relais avaient pour objectif de s'assurer une place de quota pour Paris. Actuellement, les deux relais, 4x200m nage libre et 4x100m quatre nages hommes, seraient qualifiés. Le mode de qualification prévoit que les trois premiers relais de ces championnats du monde sont directement qualifiés. Les 13 places restantes seront attribuées aux nations ayant réalisé les meilleurs temps cumulés des séries et des finales de Fukuoka et des prochains championnats du monde de Doha en février 2024. Avec une 10e et une 15e place, on serait actuellement de la partie. On va maintenant analyser si et quelles nations ont encore le potentiel de dépasser ces relais suisses et on va réfléchir comment gérer cela en vue des championnats du monde de Doha.

Les temps de qualification des courses individuelles fixés par World Aquatics et le CIO sont extrêmement exigeants. Les temps correspondent toujours à la 14e place des derniers Jeux de Tokyo - nota bene, il s'agit d'une place en demi-finale. C'est un défi incroyablement difficile à relever pour pouvoir y participer. Il est d'autant plus réjouissant que trois athlètes, Antonio Djakovic sur 400 m nage libre, Roman Mityukov sur 100 m et 200 m dos et Noè Ponti sur 100 et 200 m papillon, aient déjà pu se qualifier. Jamais encore un nageur suisse n'avait réussi à se qualifier un an avant les Jeux ! C'est également un signe de l'amélioration du niveau des nageurs suisses !

Nous félicitons tous les athlètes et toute l'équipe d'encadrement pour ces championnats réussis et leur souhaitons un bon retour à la maison lundi. Noè Ponti et Roman Mityukov resteront encore un peu plus longtemps au Japon pour visiter ce pays impressionnant. Ils ne seront de retour en Suisse que vendredi soir.

Team France shine on in Sunderland with imperious Mixed Relay gold

 

Cassandre Beaugrand, Pierre Le Corre, Emma Lombardi and Tom Richard continue French dominance of WTCS Sunderland as Team GB take silver, Norway bronze

There would be no denying Team France yet another Mixed Relay title on Sunday afternoon in Sunderland, even the prospect of serving a late 10-second penalty unable to prevent the French from making it three golds from three over a memorable first-ever Series weekend up in the north east of England.

Tom Richard had set the team on its way before Emma Lombardi picked up the duties, as well as a swim penalty that at one point threatened to derail the team’s dominance. That left Saturday’s individual champions Pierre Le Corre and Cassandre Beaugrand to steer the team home, the French women’s number one serving the penalty before soaring home still over 20 seconds clear of Great Britain’s Jessica Fullager, Solveig Lovseth hauling Norway into bronze after New Zealand had also faced a late penalty.

 

Leg One

It was another knee-deep water start for the 19 men lining up for the first leg, all facing a 300m swim, 7.7km bike that reversed the previous day’s course, and 1.7km run before handing off to their teammates.

Out of the water at the end of the first swim it was Chase McQueen for USA and the fresh Nicolo Strada for Italy with New Zealand’s Tayler Reid, Vasco Vilaca right there for Portugal.

It was Reid-McQueen-Vilaca out onto the bike and soon joined by Max Studer (SUI) and Barclay Izzard (GBR), then the chasers Vetle Bergsvik Thorn (NOR) and Tom Richard.

Soon, 15 countries were all together into the second transition and it was Thorn out first chased by Richard and Barclay, Vilaca picking his way back to the front. Studer then led at the bell, but it was Vilaca tagging Melanie Santos first and she was soon flying into the sea.

 

Leg two

Santos increased the Portugal advantage through the water, Emma Lombardi 5 seconds back with Germany’s Annabel Knoll, Gwen Jorgensen for the USA +20s, Vittoria Lopes putting Brazil within 45 seconds into T1.

Beth Potter was right with Lombardi and Santos out onto the bike as a six-deep group then tried to work a getaway. The Brit was on the power and dropped Santos but then the packs began to merge, Lotte Miller and Julie Derron powering it it over, Jorgensen also now back in touch.

As 12 teams hit transition together, Miriam Casillas Garcia missed the dismount line to give Spain a 10-second penalty, Lombardi slipping over too but recovering well.

Potter and Derron pulled away on lap one but Lombardi and Jorgensen were flying, the American putting together comfortably the fastest women’s leg, Ainsley Thorpe keeping New Zealand in the hunt before Potter handed over to Max Stapley, Derron to Adrien Briffod, Jorgensen to Darr Smith and Lombardi to Pierre Le Corre, Stapley leading Smith out into T1.

 

Leg three

Hayden Wilde, Antonio Serrat Seoane and Casper Stornes gave chase 20seconds behind the leaders but Stapley was out front and pulling clear over the early stages of the bike, holding off Batista and Smith as Wilde and Stornes surged up to them and Le Corre.

That bike effort would take a toll on Stapley’s legs though as Wilde, Le Corre and Batista all caught him early in the run, and it was the marauding New Zealander who was able to hand off first to Brea Roderick for the final leg, Cassandre Beaugrand now right on her feet.

 

Leg Four

Fullager was able to swim GB back to third and close to Roderick behind Beaugrand, now with 33 seconds to Maria Tome and Noelia Juan for Portugal and Spain.

Fullagar and Roderick caught Beaugrand on the first bike lap and the three then rode together while Solveig Lovseth biked Norway into contention 20 seconds back, but the New Zealander incurred a transition penalty for missing her bike rack.

Meanwhile Beaugrand had made ground on Fullager with a slick transition and was on the pump to stretch the suddenly growing gap knowing there was a penalty to serve. That she did at the end of lap one, and still there was nothing Fullager could do to reign in the leader whose time of 5m45s even with the penalty gave her an incredible window, allowing the time to whip up the crowd on the final lap and down the blue carpet to seal yet another fabulous French gold in Sunderland.

Fullager took silver to the home crowd’s delight, Lovseth running Norway into bronze, New Zealand with fourth and Sergio Baxter Cabrera taking Spain home in fifth.

Swim Ireland Daniel Wiffen Fourth in World Class 1500m Final

 

Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen recorded a second fourth place finish this week in the 1500m Freestyle Final on the last day of racing at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan this afternoon. It was the 22-year-old’s second time just outside the medals this week, after a fourth place in the 800m Freestyle Final on Wednesday also.

The Magheralin man, who set a European Record in the 800m event on Wednesday, stopped the clock on 14:43.01 for his second fastest time ever.

On one side of Wiffen, Australia’s Sam Short took the race out under world record pace, quickly positioning himself out ahead of the pack. At 1,000 metres, Short was caught by the two swimmers on Wiffen’s other side, USA’s Bobby Finke and Tunisia’s Ahmed Hafnaoui. The pair lead out for the rest of the race quickening their pace and leaving Wiffen with too much ground to make up.

The podium for the 1500m ended with the same three from the 800m, Hafnaoui a double World Champion in 14:31.54 and a new Championship Record; Finke taking home silver in 14:31.59 and Short the bronze in 14:37.28. Hafnaoui and Finke now the second and third fastest men ever in the event, Wiffen the seventh fastest.

Wiffen said ‘I’m happy with my World Champs so far, a bit of disappointment there going in with the fastest pb (personal best) and then coming fourth, but I mean that’s just sport. I guess I just have to train harder and come back faster’.

Looking ahead Wiffen said ‘I’m just going to go back training; I’ve got a vengeance now because I want to win that race and I didn’t. I’m just going to keep training; I’ve got the European U23s in Dublin so I’m going to focus on that and post some fast times there and then next season just go for that gold in Paris.’

Wiffen and the Ireland swimmers will arrive home to Dublin Airport at 1:40pm on Tuesday 1st August.

Jon Rudd, National Performance Director and Team Leader for the Championships commented at it’s conclusion ‘As the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka draws to a close for Ireland’s swimmers and divers, we can reflect on a highly successful and ground-breaking World Championships which have provided us with our most significant results ever at this level, making the 12 months ahead into the Paris Olympic Games even more exciting. There are things we still have to improve on as a team, but there are many highlights for us to look back on, particularly in Daniel achieving a European Record, our first ever in a long course pool. We come away with three Final positions, with our first female swimming final in nearly 30 years and only the second time we have ever featured in male swimming finals at this Championships. Additionally, we featured in eight Semi-Finals (or Top-16 equivalent) in swimming and four Semi-Finals (Top-18 equivalent) in diving – a depth that is exciting for us, competing in 7 of the

8 swimming Finals sessions’.

Rudd went on to say on “The Team set six Irish Senior Swimming Records in a highly demanding arena, where 193 of the world’s swimming nations were present. Not only that, but three of our relays currently lie in the World Top-16 positions, giving us provisional Olympic berths at this point in time in all of them and we competed in 26 of the swimming events here, with 20 of these producing performances that saw us rise in the pre-meet rankings. So, you can see why we are proud of these athletes, the staff that have supported them whilst here - and their home coaching programmes who have delivered some excellent work prior to us travelling. We look forward to the LEN European Under 23 Championships in Dublin in just under two weeks’ time – and then Paris will be upon us sooner than we know it! And finally, a massive thank you to all of you support us and believe in our National Teams – it does make a huge difference to all of us!

While many of the swimmers finished their season in Japan, Daniel Wiffen, John Shortt, Mona McSharry, Ellen Walshe and Victoria Catterson will continue preparations into the inaugural LEN European Under 23 Swimming Championships taking place on the Sport Ireland Campus, Dublin from Friday 11th – Sunday 13th August.

Reactions available HERE. https://soundcloud.com/swim-ireland

 

Sunday 29th July Results

Women 400m Individual Medley Ellen Walshe 4:43.24 (16th)

Men 4x100m Medley Relay Ireland 3:35.03 (13th)

Women 4x100m Medley Relay Ireland 4:01.25 (13th)

Men 1500m Freestyle Final  Daniel Wiffen 14:43.50 (2nd) F 14:43.01

The World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka is the first of three opportunities for Irish swimmers to secure individual Olympic places, the second being the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar in February 2024, and the third being the Irish Open Swimming Championships in May 2024.

For relays, the top three teams in Olympic relay events in Fukuoka will confirm places for Paris, with the remaining thirteen teams coming from the top times in Fukuoka and the Doha World Aquatics Championships.

Swimming at the World Aquatics Championships will take place from Sunday 23rd to Sunday 30th July.

Memorable World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka draws to a close

 

2,361 athletes, 191 Countries and the World Aquatics Refugee Team, 75 medal events and 10 World Records in Fukuoka, Japan

FUKUOKA (Japan) – Marking the 20th edition since the inaugural event was held 50 years ago, 2,361 athletes from a record-tying 191 countries and the World Aquatics Refugee Team competed in front of 135,000 spectators over the course of the championships.

The event again showed its global appeal as 320 hours of live video coverage and 17 hours of highlights programmes were distributed worldwide.

“Fukuoka has been an exceptional home for our athletes and our aquatics family. I will remember this city for its beauty. I will remember it for the wonderful friendly welcome that we have all received from every single person that we have met. But above all, I will remember Fukuoka for the incredible performances of our athletes,” said World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam.

“Fukuoka is very special. Arigatou Japan, Arigatou Fukuoka.”

Swimmers set a stunning 10 World Records in Fukuoka, including France’s Leon Marchand in the men’s 400m Individual Medley as he surpassed the record Michael Phelps owned for 5110 days – the longest-held World Record in swimming history.

Mollie O’Callaghan added five world titles and four World Records – one individual in the women’s 200m Freestyle and three in the relays with her dominant Australian Dolphin teammates.

USA’s Katie Ledecky further cemented herself as the greatest freestyle swimmer in history by winning her 15th and 16th individual world titles, surpassing Phelps for the most career individual golds at the world championships. In the all-time individual world medal table, Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom won her 20th and 21st medals to pass the 20 medals Phelps earned in his legendary career. 

The depth and performance have never been higher in swimming as 38 Continental Records, 14 Championship Records and 4 World Junior Records were also set in Fukuoka. 

In artistic swimming, a stunning week of competition saw Japan score the most points throughout the week to receive the overall winner award. Yukiko Inui of Japan repeated her double gold performance from last year in Hungary by winning both the women’s solo free and technical events. 

"I am very happy that many people have come to support swimming today - even from my hometown of Shiga Prefecture,” Inui said. “I'm glad that I was able to deliver bright news to everyone who has been supporting me."

In diving, China continued its dominance as the country’s divers won gold in nearly all diving events. It took until the last round in the last diving event in Fukuoka, but Cassiel Rousseau – an ex-gymnast from Brisbane, Australia – broke China’s six-year streak of winning every global diving championship event they’ve contested in the men’s 10m Platform. 

Athletes from 50 nations performed over 3,400 dives during the eight-day competition in a field that included nine Olympic medallists from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Tension was in the lofty air of high diving as Romania’s Constantin Popovici held onto his day one lead to the win from the men’s 27m tower.

Australia’s Rhiannan Iffland again showed she’s still the class of women’s high diving, winning her third consecutive world title from the 20m tower.

Germany asserted their dominance in open water swimming as Florian Wellbrock and Leonie Beck each won the men’s and women’s 5km and 10km events at Fukuoka’s Seaside Momochi Park. While Germany came in winning all four individual open water titles here, it was Olympic and World champion Gregorio Paltrinieri anchoring Italy to gold in the Mixed 4x1500m Relay that concluded the open water events in Fukuoka.

Women’s water polo saw the Netherlands return to the top step of the podium for the first time in 32 years as the Dutch scored a 17-16 penalty shootout win over Spain.

Regulation time wasn’t enough in the men’s water polo tournament, either, as Hungary overcame Greece in a 14-13 sudden-death penalty shootout. For Hungary, the 2023 title is their fourth overall title and their first since Barcelona hosted the World Aquatics Championships in 2013. 

As part of World Aquatics’ ongoing commitment to the global development of aquatic sports, athlete programmes were held alongside the competitions in Fukuoka. These included athlete workshops on training, nutrition and mental health. Additional athlete-focused content included cultural exchanges such as sumo wrestlers visiting the athletes, taking them through their flexibility and training routines, and then watching the competitions. 

Eighty-seven World Aquatics Scholarship holders competed in Fukuoka and for the third time in history the event also saw the participation of a World Aquatics Refugee Team comprised of Alaa Masoo and Eyad Masoud.

The World Aquatics General Congress was held during the second half of the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka and saw the election of Husain Al Musallam as President and Dale Neuburger as Treasurer.

First paracanoe gold medals at the European Championships to Hungary and Ukraine

 

Paracanoeists were competing in the first finals of the 2023 ECA Paracanoe and Junior/U23 Canoe Sprint European Championships in Portugal. In the VL finals, gold medals went to Hungary and Ukraine.

There were six VL events held on the first finals day of the 2023 ECA Paracanoe and Junior/U23 Canoe Sprint European Championships in Montemor-o-Velho, but only two were official European Championships events.

In men's VL2 200 metres final Robert Suba from Hungary took the gold medal and European Champion title. Local favourite Norberto Mourao (POR) crossed the finish line in second position to claim silver medal, while bronze medal went to Spanish paracanoeist Higinio Rivero. The defending European Champion from the 2022 Tamasz Juhasz was fifth this time.

The second paracanoe gold medal of the day in men's VL3 200 metres event was won by Ukrainian Vladyslav Yepifanov who was two seconds faster than his closest rival Markus Swoboda from Austria. Mirko Nicoli (ITA) won bronze medal in this final.

All the other races were non-official European Championships events, so no medals were given to the best. David Gonzales (ESP), Moritz Berthold (GER) and Carlos Carmo (POR) were the top three in men's VL1 200 metres event, and the defending European Champion Alessio Bedin (ITA) was just outside the podium. In women's VL1 200 metres race Viktorya Shablova (ITA) won ahead of Esther Bode (GER), and Ines Felipe (ESP) and Ellen Field (GBR) were first and second respectively in women's VL2 200 metres event. In the final race of the day, Nataliia Lahutenko (UKR) won in women's VL3 200 metres race, Anja Adler (GER) finished second and Justyna Regucka (POL) third.

On Sunday, the 2023 ECA Paracanoe and Junior/U23 Canoe Sprint European Championships in Montemor-o-Velho will conclude with 28 canoe sprint medal events and six paracanoe KL finals.

Canoe Europe Hungary and Italy top the medals table after first finals day in Montemor-o-Velho

 

Hungary and Italy won three gold medals each during the first finals day of the 2023 ECA Paracanoe and Junior/U23 Canoe Sprint European Championships. In the 1000 metres finals Hungary won altogether eight medals, Spain and Germany four each and Italy three (all golds).

Hungarian athletes who were considered one of the main favourites for the medals in the 1000 metres finals in Montemor-o-Velho had a good racing day. They have won eight medals in the first canoe sprint finals, three gold, three silver and two bronze medals.

Balint Kollek (HUN) was the best in junior MK1 1000 metres final and won his second title of the year, following the Junior World Champion title from Auronzo earlier this month. Swiss kayaker Luca Lauper won silver medal, and he too repeated the success from the Junior World Championships in 2023. Alex Borucki (POL) won bronze medal.

Zsoka Csikos (HUN) also repeated her success from 2023 ICF Junior and U23 World Championships. Once more she crossed the finish line in first place, ahead of Weronika Marczewska (POL) and Josefine Landt (GER).

The third gold medal of the day for Hungary was won by Milan Meszaros - Iliasz Mitropoulos in men's C2 Junior 1000 metres final. Mihail Culceac - Stanislav Banaru (MDA) and Iulian Serghei - Ioan Rotundu (ROU) were second and third respectively.

Italian anthem also played three times to honour their winners. Samuele Veglianti, who is the reigning Junior World Champion in men's C1 1000 metres event, won another gold medal also in Portugal, crossing the finish line ahead of Istvan Juhasz (HUN) and Florin Bange (GER).

Federico Zanutta (ITA) managed to defend his European Champion title in men's Junior K2 1000 metres final. In 2022, when Junior and U23 European Championships was held in Belgrade he paddled togehter with Luca Micotti and this year Zanutta combined forces with Fabiano Pallida. Richard Herda - Laszlo Borbely (HUN) were second and Martin Lopez - Javier Garcia (ESP) third.

Giovanni Penato (ITA) also celebrated consecutive gold medal. In men's K2 U23 1000 metres final he paddled with Francesco Lanciotti to win European Champion title, a title he already had last year when he competed together with Luca Meneguolo. Philip Bryde - Christian Farstadt (DEN) were second and Mark Mizser - Tamas Erdelyi (HUN) won bronze medal.

Denmark celebrated gold medal in men's K1 U23 1000 metres final. Thorbjorn Rask who won silver at U23 World Championships in Auronzo this month improved his performance and beat German kayaker Tobias Hammer, the reigning U23 World Champion in this event, who had to settle with silver medal this time. Ivan Penchev (BUL) was third.

Diego Dominguez (ESP) had a good day in Portugal. First, her won in men's C1 U23 1000 metres final, ahead of Polish canoeist Kacper Sieradzan and Hungarian Kristof Kollar, and later Dominguez added silver medal to his collection. Together with Manuel Fontan they finished second in men's C2 U23 1000 meters final, just behind Czech duo Jiri Minarik - Jiri Zalubil. The defending U23 European Champions over 1000 metres Ukrainians Artem Chetvertak and Pavlo Borsuk were third this time.

Young German kayaker Caroline Heuser and Hungarian Hanna Peto repeated their success from Junior World Championships in Auronzo. Once again they were first and second in junior K1 1000 metres event. Spain's Maria Paraja won bronze medal.

On Sunday, the 2023 ECA Paracanoe and Junior/U23 Canoe Sprint European Championships in Montemor-o-Velho will conclude with 28 canoe sprint medal events and six paracanoe KL finals.

WATER POLO USA Men Outlast Montenegro With Shootout Win To Take 7th At World Championships

 

Fukuoka, Japan - July 29 - The USA Men's National Team bounced back from two tough losses to defeat Montenegro 17-15 in a shootout, claiming seventh place at the World Aquatics World Championships. Ben Hallock scored four goals and added the clinching score in the shootout. Drew Holland went the distance in net recording nine saves in addition to a save in the shootout. Team USA finishes their time in Japan at 4-3 with wins over Kazakhstan, Australia, Canada and Montenegro.

The two sides traded goals to start, with Hallock putting Team USA up 2-1 with 3:38 to play in the first. Montenegro rallied with two straight for a 3-2 lead but Luca Cupido answered, tying the game at 3-3 after one. The goal trading continued in the second quarter as Max Irving opened the scoring for a 4-3 lead only to see Montenegro pull in front 5-4 moments later. Montenegro would lead 7-5 later in the period but the United States battled back with two straight from Irving and Dylan Woodhead for a 7-7 game at half.

Team USA kept the offensive attack clicking as they opened the third quarter with two in a row to grab a 9-7 edge thanks to tallies from Alex Bowen and Johnny Hooper. Montenegro answered with two in a row to tie the match at 9-9 but Hallock responded with a score for a 10-9 advantage. Adversity struck late in the third quarter when Chase Dodd was whistled for a brutality foul and sent from the match, leaving Montenegro on a four-minute power play. They took advantage, tying the contest on the subsequent penalty shot and then going in front 11-10 early in the fourth quarter. Team USA weathered the storm allowing just two goals in that span and tying the match at 11-11 on a 5-on-4 early in the fourth quarter. Around the three-minute mark Montenegro went back ahead by one but Hallock answered on a spectacular move inside for a 12-12 match. Final attempts by Montenegro were thwarted by Holland and the match moved to a shootout.

Each side hit their first shots, in the second round Hannes Daube converted for Team USA and Montenegro was blocked by Holland. Team USA hit their shots the rest of the way culminating with the Hallock goal to confirm the victory.

Team USA went 5/9 on power plays and 2/3 on penalties while Montenegro went 5/9 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties.

Scoring - Stats

USA 17 (3, 4, 3, 2) (5) B. Hallock 4, H. Daube 2, M. Irving 2, J. Hooper 1, L. Cupido 1, D. Woodhead 1, A. Bowen 1

MNE 15 (3, 4, 3, 2) (3) K. Averka 2, D. Radovic 2, S. Vidovic 2, V. Spaic 1, D. Matkovic 1, V. Radovic 1, M. Perkovic 1, V. Popadic 1, A. Ukropina 1

Saves - USA - D. Holland 9 - MNE - P. Tesanovic 7

6x5 - USA - 5/9 - MNE 5/9

Penalties - USA - 2/3 - MNE - 1/1

Swim Ireland - Wiffen, Ferguson and McSharry Progress to Finals on Productive Morning for Team Ireland in Japan

 

Team Ireland swimmers had one of their most productive mornings so far on the penultimate day of racing at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. Day six saw Daniel Wiffen qualify for the 1500m Freestyle Final, and Conor Ferguson and Mona McSharry advance to the semi-finals of the 50m Backstroke and 50m Breaststroke respectively.

Daniel Wiffen will compete in tomorrow’s 1500m Freestyle Final after an impressive heat swim of 14:43.50. Wiffen lead for much of the race with the USA’s Bobby Finke (14:43.06) by his side. Finke took over the lead at the 1000m mark and the pair were separated in the end by only .44. The duo secured the centre lines for the final with the two fastest preliminary times. 800m Freestyle World Champion Ahmed Hafnaoui (Tunisia) was the next fastest qualifier winning the third heat in 14:49.53.

Wiffen commented after the race ‘It was great, my strategy was to go in and break up the field and I did that quite well and then after about 500m sit back on a good pace that would get me through to the final so I did that, it was good, a good race as well there with the American Bobby Finke, but it was alright, it was fun’.

Wiffen has big plans for tomorrow’s final saying ‘I think I’m still going with my aspirations of hitting that World Record (14:31.01), need to get out now, get some recovery done for tomorrow night, 36 hours, get that done and have a good final. It hurt a little, but I’m holding back still, so still that bit left’.

Wiffen’s best time is a 14:34.91, which he swam in Sweden earlier this year. That swim has him ranked as the fifth fastest man in the world ever and is the fastest time of any of the swimmers competing in tomorrow’s Final.

The Men’s 1500m Freestyle Final will take place tomorrow (Sunday) at 12.16pm (Ireland).

Conor Ferguson advances to his first ever World Championships Semi-Final after a brilliant fifth place finish in his heat of the 50m Backstroke. The 23-year-old placed 11th overall in 24.95, just .14 of a second off his best time of 24.81 from 2021.

Speaking after the race Ferguson said ‘I’m good, happy with that this morning, I think the first swim on Monday (100m Backstroke) I was a bit nervous for. I’ve had a week to really relax, reflect on that swim and use that disappointment to fuel me into this 50m so yeah, I’m looking forward to tonight.

Looking ahead to this evening’s semi-final, the Loughborough University swimmer said, ‘I’ve definitely got a pb in me tonight, bit of a primer this morning will do me good, go back, sleep, recover and get ready for tonight’.

Mona McSharry made it three from three for semi-finals advancing in the 50m Breaststroke this morning. The 22-year-old, who has already been fifth in the 100m Breaststroke Final and featured in the 200m Breaststroke semi-final, progresses in twelfth place in 30.45, just off her Irish Record of 30.29 from the Irish Open Championships in April this year.

McSharry commented after the race ‘I’m happy, you know it wasn’t a bad morning swim, probably one of the fastest I’ve done in the morning, you’ve got to love the 50m, it’s a nice one to end on, a sprint and get the hands on the wall first.’

Looking ahead to this afternoon’s semi-final and McSharry has a target ‘I would love to break the 30 point, we’ll see what happens, in the 50m it needs to be perfect, but I’m well able to do that.’

Also, in action this morning, Danielle Hill clocked 25.55 in the 50m Freestyle in her final individual swim of the Championships. Hill is back tomorrow for the Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay ‘I’m happy, yesterday, and today were all about finding a way to swim fast in the morning because I know I have to step up tomorrow and do that, not only for myself but for those girls’.

Reactions available HERE. https://soundcloud.com/swim-ireland

 

Saturday 28th July Results

Women 50m Freestyle Danielle Hill 25.55 (30th)

Men 50m Backstroke Conor Ferguson 24.95 (11th)

Women 50 Breaststroke Mona McSharry 30.45 (12th)

Men 1500m Freestyle Daniel Wiffen 14:43.50 (2nd)

 

Saturday 28th July Schedule

Women 50 Breaststroke Semi-Final Mona McSharry 12.26pm (Ireland)

Men 50m Backstroke Semi-Final  Conor Ferguson 1:06pm (Ireland)

The World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka is the first of three opportunities for Irish swimmers to secure individual Olympic places, the second being the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar in February 2024, and the third being the Irish Open Swimming Championships in May 2024.

For relays, the top three teams in Olympic relay events in Fukuoka will confirm places for Paris, with the remaining thirteen teams coming from the top times in Fukuoka and the Doha World Aquatics Championships.

Swimming at the World Aquatics Championships will take place from Sunday 23rd to Sunday 30th July.

CANOE EUROPE Portugal strong in the shortest distance in Montemor-o-Velho

 

Young European canoe sprint paddlers continued with excellent performances on day two of the 2023 ECA Paracanoe and Junior/U23 Canoe Sprint European Championships in Portugal, when 200 metres heats and 500/1000 metres semifinals were on the programme. It was also the first competition day for paracanoeists.

It was a busy and long day in Portugal during the second competition day of the 2023 ECA Paracanoe and Junior/U23 Canoe Sprint European Championships. Future stars of canoe sprint first fought for the remaining places in the finals of 500 and 1000 metres events, and in the afternoon heats over 200 metres were held. Also, four paracanoeing heats in KL events were held at the end of the competition programme.

Paddlers from more than 30 European countries were trying to book a ticket in Sunday's 200 metres finals directly from the Friday's heats, so there were some intense fights happening in Montemor-o-Velho. Some were happy, and some will seek their opportunity to start in the Sunday's final in the 200 metres semifinals, which are scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

Agnes Kiss (HUN) was one of those lucky ones, who set the fastest time of the day and were given a direct pass to the final on Sunday. She was successful in women's junior C1 200 metres heats. Her teammate David Koczkas (HUN) also produced the fastest time of the day in men's C1 U23 200 metres event and also booked a place in final A.

The host nation was very happy with performances of their athletes in women's C1 U23 200 metres heats and in men's K1 U23 200 metres event. Namely, Beatriz Fernandes and Pedro Casinha (POR) both set the fastest times in their respective events with the loud support from the stands.

Ukrainian Vitalii Prystai was the fastest paddler of the day in men's C1 junior 200 metres heats, Krista Berzina (LAT) in women's junior K1 200 metres event, Irene Bellan (ITA) in women's K1 U23 200 metres heats and Alex Borucki (POL) in men's junior K1 200 metres event.

At the end of the competition day parakayakers in men's KL2 and KL3 200 metres events were fighting for the spots in the finals. The top three placed athletes from each of the heats secured themselves a place in the final A, while the rest will need to go to the semifinal and seek their chances there. The fastest trio in men's KL2 200 metres heats were Federico Mancarella (ITA), Mykola Syniuk (UKR) and Markus Swoboda (AUT), while Mateusz Surwilo (POL), Stuart Wood (GBR) and Juan Valle (ESP) produced the fastest times of the day in men's KL3 200 metres heats.

The first finals of the 2023 ECA Paracanoe and Junior/U23 Canoe Sprint European Championships will be contested on Saturday. We will follow ten A finals over 1000 metres and six paracanoe VL finals.

WORLD TRIATHLON WTCS Sunderland brings triathlon stars to north-east England for first time

 

Wilde and Vilaça bid for men's Series ranking lead and Beaugrand leads strong French challenge for medals at first ever WTCS Sunderland

Sunderland and the north-east of England will make a World Triathlon Championship Series debut on Saturday afternoon, when the 14th successive British leg of top-tier triathlon moves a two-hour drive north of its traditional home of Leeds, 450km north of London, ready to start a new chapter in the country’s racing history.

Roker Beach is the centre of the action, where the crowds will miss a close-up of the injured Georgia Taylor-Brown, but will have Olivia Mathias to get behind as the sole Brit in the women’s race up against a powerful-looking French line up spearheaded by WTCS Hamburg winner Cassandre Beaugrand and a resurgent German team arriving off the back of a celebratory WTCS Hamburg.

As the chase for the men's 2023 title continues to heat up, Sunderland will see a straight shootout between New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde and Portugal’s Vasco Vilaca for who is standing on top of the rankings on Saturday evening with the Paris Test Event and Championship Series still to come, defending champion Leo Bergere also returning for the first time since Cagliari in May.

The course begins with an anti-clockwise 750m swim in the choppy, chilly North Sea framed by Sunderland Harbour, the athletes will then head out onto a technical, five-lap 21.3km bike, each circuit with one steady climb, three quicker straights, a switchback and dead turns, before wrapping up with a 2-lap 5km run for the medals.

As always, you can watch all the action over on TriathlonLive.tv - men's start 2pm, women 3.35pm BST, Saturday 29 July.

 

WOMEN'S PREVIEW

Cassandre Beaugrand leads a trio of French talent, fresh from her outstanding WTCS Hamburg victory and looking to build into August’s huge Paris Test Event with another win that would catapult her into second place in the rankings behind the absent Beth Potter. From swim to bike to run, the 26-year-old was again immaculate in Germany, and as a nearby Loughborough resident these days, the ease of a ‘home’ race should only add one more to the list of reasons that a successive Series gold could be hers.

Teammates Emma Lombardi and Leonie Periault return to the blue carpet, Lombardi a top-10 regular in recent Series outings including two silvers in Cagliari, more recently putting in the hours in the Font Romeu mountains and hungry to put those kilometres into race action. Periault’s road back from injury last year has gone well, bad luck in Cagliari notwithstanding, a silver in Montreal a month ago just another signal of her potential for a huge Paris 2024 campaign.

Nicole Van Der Kaay was another to impress in Hamburg, sixth in the individual race, silver with Team New Zealand in the mixed relay, and this weekend would be the perfect moment to score a first Series podium since 2021.

German athletes were collectively on fire on home turf, with Annika Koch and Marlene Gomez-Goggel putting together career-best displays and Lena Meissner again impressing. World Cup winners in Arzachena and Huatulco last year, Goggel and Koch finished fifth and fourth respectively a fortnight ago, the kind of tough, all-in finishes that will steel their confidence for another new challenge and medal hunt in Sunderland.

Expect Zsanett Bragmayer (HUN), Bianca Seregni (ITA) and Vittoria Lopes (BRA) to be leading through the water, the returning Maya Kingma likely to be right there too as she also explores her return to full race fitness and pushing her limits with just two Series starts to her name so far in 2023.

The USA’s great Gwen Jorgensen could rip through this 5km run and establish herself back among the best this weekend, at the other end of the experience spectrum but with a no less dangerous kick is Sweden’s Tiszaujvaros World Cup winner Tilda Mansson. Swiss pair Cathia Schar and Julie Derron look destined for an imminent Series podium, and Belgium’s Jolien Vermeylen has shown superb consistency in 2023 and is ready for a Series breakthrough after 9th place in Hamburg.

 

MEN'S PREVIEW

Fans will be looking for another hit of the kind of high-octane action that they were treated to at WTCS Hamburg a fortnight ago, while the athletes will be grateful the challenge is a more straightforward sprint-distance thrash out than that intense two-day blast in Germany.

It was Hayden Wilde’s tactical masterclass that won the day in Germany and put him in touch with Series leader Vasco Vilaca, the final super-sprint coming down to a brilliant T2 that bought the kiwi the slither of daylight he needed over his rivals, taking full advantage to seal a second win of the year.

It should be another fascinating finale in Sunderland, with those still around him onto the run knowing that Wilde will be the man to try and hang on to over the first lap, while he will of course be looking to shake them off as quickly as possible. Current number one Vilaca hasn’t missed a race this year and continues to build and finesse his challenge for the title. Out-pacing Alex Yee down the chute in Hamburg will have given the 23-year-old a boost even if he couldn’t quite reach Wilde, and there is never any shortage of confidence or bravery from the Portuguese star, while Yee sits out the race ahead of next month’s Paris Test Event.

The 2022 World Champion Leo Bergere is back on the start line and keen to see how a solid two month training block and time at the altitude of Font Romeu has sharpened his challenge. With Pierre Le Corre by his side, the pair worked so successfully in Abu Dhabi in November to push the bike pace, and will know that could again be their best chance at keeping the likes of Wilde at bay.

European Games champion Vetle Bergsvik Thorn again looked sharp before his unfortunate DSQ in Hamburg and he will be fired up for redemption after that frustrating finish a fortnight ago as the sole Norwegian on the men’s side.

There is dangerous run form and speed deep into the start list, though. Jawad Abdelmoula has yet to recapture his form of 2022 but remains a threat, Manoel Messias has already run his way to the podium twice in impressive fashion in 2023, Antonio Serrat Seoane (ESP) and Tim Hellwig (GER) will want to top up their first tastes of podium successes last year.

Can Jonas Schomburg (GER) make one of his signature power moves out of T2 stick for a first Series medal? Will Kenji Nener (JPN) convert his top-10 consistency to a podium spot? What will it take for Richard Murray (RSA) or Mario Mola (ESP) to roll back the years and find what would be a famous finish in Sunderland? Tune in to TriathlonLive.tv from 2pm BST Sunday to find out!

WTCS Sunderland

From 14:00 Saturday 29 July

TriathlonLive.tv https://www.triathlonlive.tv/products/2023-wtcs-sunderland?mc_cid=64065a510f&mc_eid=6139649918

 

Start list https://triathlon.org/events/start_list/2023_world_triathlon_championship_series_sunderland/576187?mc_cid=64065a510f&mc_eid=6139649918

CANOE EUROPE Hungarian and German athletes make strong start to European Championships

 

The 2023 ECA Paracanoe and Junior/U23 Canoe Sprint European Championships in Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal, kicked off with 1000 and 500 metres heats. The first competition day was dominated by two nations.

Paddlers from Hungary and Germany had a good racing day in cloudy and somewhat chilly conditions. In 26 events that were on the programme on Thursday, Hungarian and German athletes set the fastest times of the day in majority of them. At the end of day one, Hungarian canoe sprinters dominated in eleven events, German in seven and Italian in four events. Athelets from Spain, Switzerland, Poland and Norway had the fastest heats time in the remaining four events.

Zsoka Csikos (WK1 U23 1000m), Richard Herda - Laszlo Borbely (MK1 Junior 1000m), Milan Meszaros - Iliasz Mitropoulos (MC2 Junior 1000m), Agnes Kiss (WC1 Junior 500m), Reka Opavszky (WC1 U23 500m), Gergely Lugosi - Istvan Juhasz (MC2 Junior 500m), Aliz Gombas - Hanna Peto (WK2 Junior 500m), Agnes Kiss - Csepke Molnar (WC2 Junior 500m), Kristof Kollar - David Hodovan (MC2 U23 500m), Karina Biben - Szabina Szellak (WK2 U23 500m) and women's Junior K2 were those in the Hungarian team that started this championships with full power.

A very good day is behind young German kayaker Caroline Heuser, who set the fastest heats time in both junior women's kayak events of the day, over 1000 and 500 metres. Her teammate Tobias Hammer was the best in men's K1 U23 1000 metres heats, David Bauschke in men's C1 U23 1000 metres event and Gesine Ragwitz in women's K1 U23 500 metres heats. Germany was fast in doubles as well. Tim Bechtold and David Toepel has the best race of the day in men's C1 U23 1000 metres heats, and Philipp Quiel - Leon Reckzeh in men's K2 Junior 500 metres heats.

Francesco Lanciotti and Giovanni Penato (ITA) were too fast for their rivals in men's K2 U23 1000 and 500 meters heats, as Italian duo set the fastest times of the day in over both distances. Italian paddlers were also the fastest in men's junior K4 500 metres heats and in men's junior C1 1000 metres heat thanks to Samuele Veglianti.

Swiss kayaker Luca Lauper was the best in the first event of the day, men's junior 1000 metres heats, Alex Borucki (POL) in men's junior 500 metres heats and Gunnar Eide (NOR) in men's U23 500 metres heats. Spain was the best in men's K4 U23 500 metres heats.

On Friday, the 2023 ECA Paracanoe and Junior/U23 Canoe Sprint European Championships continues with 500 and 1000 metres semifinal, 200 metres heats and four paracanoe heats.

SWISS AQUATICS En 1:55.85, Roman Mityukov obtient un nouveau record de Suisse et la qualification pour la finale du 200 m dos

 

Deux athlètes de Swiss Aquatics étaient au départ dans la section finale de la cinquième journée de compétition des championnats du monde de natation. En demi-finale du 200 m brasse, Lisa Mamié voulait s'assurer une place en finale et un billet pour Paris 2024. Au 200m dos, Roman Mityukov s'est fixé pour objectif de réitérer sa performance des séries, qu'il a terminées en deuxième position.

Roman Mituykov a mis le turbo ce soir dans le bassin de compétition du Marine Messe Fukuoka Hall A. Il a contrôlé la course, ne s'est pas laissé irriter par le rythme de départ rapide de ses concurrents et a terminé sa course en nageant de manière cool. C'était la tactique parfaite. Il les a dépassés l'un après l'autre et a touché le fond en première position après 1:55.85, nouveau record de Suisse. Personne n'a pu battre ce temps lors de la deuxième demi-finale et c'est donc en tant que premier des demi-finales qu'il se qualifie souverainement pour la finale de demain. Il se sent très bien dans l'eau et apprécie tout simplement de nager. La tactique de commencer tranquillement et d'accélérer à la fin a fonctionné comme il l'espérait. Nous verrons bien ce qui se passera demain", a-t-il déclaré très calmement après cette performance exceptionnelle.

La demi-finale de Lisa Mamié n'a pas été aussi réussie. Elle a certes amélioré son temps de 1,5 seconde et de 4 places par rapport aux séries, mais son temps de 2:24.84 ne lui a pas permis de se qualifier pour la finale ni d'obtenir son billet pour les Jeux olympiques de 2024. Elle n'a donc pas pu trouver beaucoup de points positifs à sa performance, même si une 11e place à des championnats du monde est un excellent résultat. Mais elle continuera et se battra pour atteindre son objectif, les Jeux olympiques.

Demain, lors des séries préliminaires (à partir de 10h30, heure locale), Noè Ponti ainsi que le relais masculin de 4x200m nage libre se battront pour se qualifier pour la session de soirée. Roman Mityukov est déjà assuré de participer à la finale du soir (à partir de 20h, heure locale).

Photo: Patrick B. Kraemer

Swim Ireland – Tom Fannon Best of Team Ireland on Day Six in Fukuoka

 

Ireland’s Tom Fannon produced Ireland’s best result on the sixth day of the World Aquatics Championships in Japan, finishing twentieth in the Men’s 50m Freestyle.

Fannon, who holds the Irish Record of 21.95 in the event, was making his senior international debut for Ireland and was just outside the semi-final places by .08 of a second, finishing in 22.13. The National Centre Dublin swimmer, who was hoping to achieve the Olympic Qualification time of 21.96 this morning, spoke after his race ‘It was ok, I’m extremely disappointed I won’t lie, I felt like the preparation for this has been the best preparation I’ve ever had going into a meet. At the start of the week, I was extremely fast in training, it felt fast in the water as well and I think that’s why I’m more upset because it felt so good. You have to swim the 50 perfectly, it has to be the perfect race, I felt like I did a good job, but not quite where I need to be at.’

Danielle Hill continued a busy week in the heats of the 50m Butterfly. The Larne swimmer posted her fastest ever morning swim in the event to finish second in her heat and thirtieth overall in 26.90 ‘I’m actually really happy to dip under 27 (seconds), I think that’s my fastest ever morning swim and so yes a massive positive for me as stepping up in the morning is never easy for me; it’s something that I’m learning, unfortunately learning the hard way, but still learning, so yes I’m happy. It’s a nice warm up, hopefully do something nice tomorrow (50m Freestyle) and then finish off with the girls on Sunday (4x100m Medley Relay)’.

In the 100m Butterfly, Max McCusker made his championship debut clocking 53.46, his fourth fastest time ever and was fortieth overall. Speaking after the race McCusker said ‘It was ok, a bit slow, to be honest I thought I’d be faster, but my first race at World Championships, would have been good to do something earlier in the week and flush it out but it’s fine, it was a decent time.’

Tomorrow, on the penultimate day of racing at the World Championships, Finalists and Olympic Games qualifiers Daniel Wiffen and Mona McSharry return to the pool. Wiffen goes in his favoured 1500m Freestyle, where the 22-year-old is currently ranked second, while McSharry competes in the 50m Breaststroke. Ireland’s fastest ever female swimmer Danielle Hill will compete in the 50m Freestyle and Conor Ferguson returns to the pool for the 50m Backstroke.

Reactions available HERE. https://soundcloud.com/swim-ireland

Friday 27th July Results

Men 100m Butterfly Max McCusker 53.46 (40th)      

Men 50m Freestyle Tom Fannon 22.13 (20th)      

Women 50m Butterfly Danielle Hill 26.90 (30th)      

           

Saturday 28th July Schedule

Women 50m Freestyle  Danielle Hill 2:32am (Ireland)

Men 50m Backstroke Conor Ferguson 2:55am (Ireland)

Women 50 Breaststroke Mona McSharry 3:10am (Ireland)      

Men 1500m Freestyle Daniel Wiffen 3:52am (Ireland)

SWISS AQUATICS Noè Ponti nage de manière convaincante pour se qualifier pour les demi-finales

 

Noè Ponti (Photo: Patrick B. Kraemer)

Ce matin, l'équipe nationale suisse avait deux engagements au programme des Championnats du monde de natation à Fukuoka, au Japon. Noè Ponti s'est d'abord présenté dans la piscine, puis le relais 4x200m nage libre hommes a tenté de se qualifier pour la finale du soir.

Noè Ponti voulait faire oublier sa déception de la veille, lorsqu'il n'avait pas réussi à se qualifier pour les finales de ses deux épreuves individuelles (50m et 200m papillon). Le jeune médaillé olympique tessinois a pu montrer ses capacités dans sa course du 100n papillon. Il a terminé sa course dans la série la plus rapide en 51.00 secondes et a réussi à se qualifier en quatrième position. Il n'avait nagé cette distance plus vite que lors de ses grands succès à Tokyo en 2021 et à Rome en 2022.

Le relais 4x200m nage libre souhaitait également passer les séries. En atteignant la finale, la qualification pour Paris serait déjà quasiment acquise. Antonio Djakovic, Roman Mityukov, Noè Ponti et Nils Liess étaient engagés. Antonio a commencé la course de manière fulminante et a pu passer la tâche à Roman en deuxième position. Malheureusement, le relais n'a pas réussi à suivre le rythme de ses concurrents et a perdu du temps sur les nations de tête jusqu'à la fin de la distance totale de 800m. Même grâce au superbe temps que Noè a réalisé dans le bassin et qui lui a permis de réduire à nouveau le retard entre-temps, cela n'a pas suffi à la fin. Le relais a terminé la course à la 14e place et n'a pas réussi à se qualifier pour la finale du top 8.

Même en manquant la finale, le relais peut toujours se qualifier pour Paris. A la fin du cycle de qualification, ils doivent être parmi les 16 meilleures nations. Actuellement, c'est le cas et les championnats du monde de Doha leur offriront une nouvelle occasion de s'améliorer. Il faut maintenant apprendre de ces erreurs pour pouvoir faire mieux la prochaine fois, a déclaré Antonio Djakovic, un peu déçu après la course.

Ce soir, Noè Ponti (20h09, heure locale) et Roman Mityukov (20h59), qui s'est déjà qualifié hier pour la finale du 200 m dos, seront donc en lice.

WATER POLO USA Women Claim Fifth At World Championships Following Shootout Victory Over Hungary

 

Fukuoka, Japan - July 28 - The Women's National Team finished strong at the World Aquatics World Championships, defeating Hungary 15-13 in a shootout to claim fifth place. Jordan Raney scored three times in regulation and added the clinching goal in the shootout. Amanda Longan recorded 10 saves in regulation with Ashleigh Johnson adding a block in the penalty shootout. Team USA finishes 5-1 picking up victories over China, Australia, France, Canada and Hungary. Following the match, Maddie Musselman was recognized as the World Aquatics Women's Water Polo Athlete of the Year for 2022 as she helped lead the United States to a fourth straight world title in Budapest, Hungary.

Team USA started off solidly opening a 3-0 lead in the first period behind goals from Musselman, Raney and Jewel Roemer. Hungary scored two of the next three and cut the deficit to 4-2 after one. Hungary kept the pressure on, delivering two straight goals to start the second quarter, tying the match at 4-4 with 6:11 to play. There were no other goals scored until Dora Leimeter connected in close to give Hungary their first lead at 5-4 with 1:14 left in the first half. Team USA got their lone goal in the quarter with less than thirty seconds to play as Rachel Fattal hit on the power play for a 5-5 match at intermission.

Team USA took back control of the match early in the second after Raney and Jovana Sekulic connected to make it 7-5 with 4:37 to go in the quarter. Hungary would not relent and they kept chipping away until Rita Keszthelyi scored one of her four goals on the day to tie the match at 8-8. Ryann Neushul and Musselman responded with goals for a 10-8 edge with :52 to go in the quarter. Hungary had the final word making it a one-goal game going to the fourth. Raney scored on a power play to start the fourth giving Team USA an 11-9 lead. Again Hungary battled back scoring two straight, the last coming from Kamila Farago with about two-minutes to play for a tie at 11-11. Each side had opportunities in the final moments but regulation ended in a tie, leading to the shootout.

The shootout couldn't have started better for Team USA. Hungary missed on their first shot and had their second blocked by Johnson. In the meantime, Neushul and Jenna Flynn converted for a two goal edge. Hungary started to make their shots but the math wasn't in their favor as Steffens and Raney hit on Team USA's following shots to secure the victory.

The United States went 6/11 on power plays and 2/2 on penalties in regulation while Hungary was 3/8 on power plays with no penalties attempted.

Scoring - Stats

USA 15 (4, 1, 5, 1) (4) J. Raney 3, M. Musselman 2, J. Roemer 2, J. Sekulic 1, R. Fattal 1, M. Steffens 1, R. Neushul 1

HUN 13 (2, 3, 4, 2) (2) R. Keszthelyi 4, Z. Mate 2, D. Szilagyi 1, R. Parkes 1, K. Garda 1, K. Farago 1, D. Leimeter 1

Saves - USA - A. Longan 10 - HUN - A. Magyari 11

6x5 - USA - 6/11 - HUN - 3/8

Penalties - USA - 2/2 - HUN - 0/0