More than 600 swimmers from 43 countries are coming to Vilnius, Lithuania for the 50th European Junior Championships. The event will take place from 2-7 July and will be broadcasted live on EuroAquaticsTV.com with a replay option available. This is the first time a Baltic nation is hosting a continental championship, and it will be held at the Lazdynai Pool in Vilnius.
The six-day competition will feature girls aged 14-17 and boys aged 15-18. Some swimmers will be making their European debut, while others are returning champions from previous editions. Eneli Jefimova from Estonia, who became the first Estonian swimmer to win a European long-course title, will be seeking her fourth straight 100m breaststroke title in Vilnius before heading to Paris for her Olympic debut.
Another standout swimmer to watch is Kuzey Tuncelli from Türkiye, who won the men’s 1500m freestyle in Belgrade. He aims to secure double gold in Lithuania before making a splash in Paris. Tuncelli looks up to swimming legend Michael Phelps and hopes to emulate his success.
Italy has entered the largest squad with 44 swimmers, followed by Lithuania with 36 swimmers. Among the Italian contingent are three 17-year-olds who will be making their Olympic debuts. Sara Curtis, who won three golds at the 2023 edition in Belgrade, has already set a European junior record in the 50m freestyle. She is joined by Alessandro Ragaini and Carlos D’Ambrosio, who will also compete in Paris.
Hungary’s 20-strong squad includes standout swimmers like Minna Abraham, who claimed multiple golds and silvers at the European Aquatics Championships Belgrade 2024. Dora Molnar, who won the 200m backstroke in 2023, will also be competing in Vilnius.
The competition promises to be exciting, with young talent from across Europe showcasing their skills in the pool. Fans can follow all the action on EuroAquaticsTV.com and stay updated with live results on the Euro Aqua app.