Synchro swimmers enjoy most successful world junior championships

Record-breakers Great Britain have enjoyed their most successful ever World Junior Synchronised Swimming Championships.

The team produced personal bests in every final they reached in Budapest, Hungary, to give them a huge confidence boost going in to the senior European Championships in Glasgow next month.

After an impressive performance in the technical team event, Great Britain’s youngsters finished 12th in the free team final.

Daisy Rushton, Daniella Lloyd, Greta Hampson, Millicent Costello, Victoria Usher, Abigail Taylor, Cerys Larsen and Harriette Smith swam the Tribal free team and finished on 79.7000 – improving on their performance at the recent European Junior Championships in Finland.

The final event, the free combination, saw Isabelle Thorpe and Kate Shortman join Rushton, Lloyd, Hampson, Costello, Usher, Taylor, Larsen and Smith for the spider combo.

And they delivered the goods as they claimed ninth spot in the final with a new best score of 80.3333.

Girls have done us proud

Karen Thorpe, Swim England’s synchronised swimming manager, said: “It’s safe to say that this was the most successful junior world championships on record by a GB team.

“During training, the coaches have worked on sharpness and accuracy, lifts and patterns. The focus in these areas were key to the improvements, which helped us reach every final.

“We now have a few days’ rest and then return to training to prepare for the senior European Championships in Glasgow. It’s a busy season but we are raring to go.

“Thanks to our supporters here and at home. The girls have done us proud. And thank you to our fabulous coaches Paola Basso, Stefania Speroni and, even though he wasn’t here, Davide Torreggiani. He has done so much with us and will be in Glasgow.

“Also thanks to our judge, Hannah Secher, who did a great job,”

The synchronised swimming at the European Championships takes place at the Scotstoun Sports Campus, Glasgow, between 3-7 August.