USA Artistic Swimming Closes Historic Junior Worlds With Top-10 Finishes Across 11 Disciplines

The largest recorded Junior World Championships came to a close nearly two weeks ago in Budapest, Hungary, where the United States showcased their depth and determination on the international stage. Competing across 11 disciplines, Team USA secured a top-10 finish in every event entered, closing out a memorable week of competition against the world’s best junior athletes. 

While the final results tell only part of the story, the athletes and coaches returned home with something even more valuable: experience, confidence and a stronger sense of trust in one another. 

“From the outside, people only see the final scores, but the real experience for us was in the culture we built,” said Head Coach Ludi Stsepaniuk. “We didn’t just practice routines out there; we built a family, established a culture, and prepared these athletes for their future careers, whether that’s in sports or life outside of it. It’s not always about the medals, but about the journey and what you learn along the way.” 

The competition opened with the Women’s Solo Technical event, where Kanako Field delivered a strong performance to earn sixth place with a score of 235.3750. 

Later that evening, David Llorente took the stage in the Men’s Solo Technical event, matching Field’s sixth-place finish and giving the United States two top-six results to open the championships. 

The first day concluded with the Team Technical event, as the U.S. took the pool with its signature “Peacock” routine. The team earned seventh place overall with a score of 264.6316. 

Day two opened with the Duet Technical event, where Anamaria Camero and Field earned seventh place with a score of 274.8017. 

For the athletes, however, the competition was about more than what happened in the pool. Each day began and ended with a team cheer, creating a consistent ritual that helped keep the group connected through the highs and challenges of competition. 

“Every day, we started with a team cheer and ended the day with another one. It created such a strong sense of ritual and togetherness,” said Assistant Coach Ou Liu. “Everyone was constantly encouraging and supporting one another, and there was such a deep sense of trust within the team.” 

Day three brought another busy slate of competition, beginning with the Women’s Duet Free preliminary round. Camero returned to the pool, this time alongside new duet partner Ghizal Akbar. The pair earned fifth place in prelims to advance to the finals, where they once again secured fifth place with a strong performance. 

Llorente made his third appearance on the world stage alongside Yilian Yuan in the Mixed Duet Technical event. The pair earned seventh place with a score of 193.8066. 

The day concluded with the Team Free preliminary event, where the stars and stripes earned sixth place with a score of 226.7580 to advance to the finals. 

For Stsepaniuk, the team’s performance in the moments leading into Team Free prelims became one of the defining moments of the entire competition. 

“There is one specific moment that will stay with me forever. It was our meeting and land drill session right before Free Team prelims,” said Stsepaniuk. “The athletes got together and delivered the most powerful, connected routine during that session. It moved me tremendously. You could just feel the energy and unity in the room.” 

That connection carried into the competition. Despite athletes battling illness and injuries throughout the championships, the team continued to push forward and support one another. 

“They just looked at each other, took responsibility, and fought for the team,” Stsepaniuk added. “Even when some results weren't what we expected, they didn't let it get them down. They just came back stronger and more determined for the next routine.” 

The United States opened day four with the Mixed Duet Free event, where Llorente and Yuan once again secured seventh place, matching their result from the technical competition. 

The day concluded with the Team Acrobatic event, where Team USA finished ninth with a total score of 169.7620. 

The Team Free finals came two days later, with the United States returning to the pool and holding strong to its sixth-place position from the preliminary round. 

Across the championships, Team USA consistently demonstrated the ability to adapt, respond to challenges and continue improving from one routine to the next. 

“What they executed best was their mental toughness and their ability to handle pressure,” said Stsepaniuk. “In artistic swimming, things don’t always go perfectly, but their response to challenges was world-class.” 

“Even if we didn't walk away with a medal, most of the routines were base mark free and I am so incredibly proud of their performances at this competition,” Stsepaniuk continued. “When a routine didn't go as planned, they didn’t let it ruin their mindset. They adapted, stayed focused, and actually got better and more determined with every swim.” 

For Liu, that resilience is exactly what will make the Junior World Championships experience so important as these athletes continue their careers. 

“Competing at Junior Worlds gives these athletes invaluable experience at a very high level,” said Liu. “It teaches them how to handle pressure, adapt to unexpected challenges, and stay focused when things don’t go exactly as planned.” 

“Every experience here, both the successes and the challenges, will help them grow into more confident, resilient, and well-rounded athletes,” Liu added. 

With 11 disciplines entered and a top-10 finish in every event, the United States leaves Budapest with plenty to celebrate — but perhaps an even greater foundation to build upon. The results are one measure of the team’s success; the culture, resilience and experience gained throughout the week may prove to be the most lasting victory of all.