Twenty-two years ago, the 2001 edition of the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka kickstarted the remarkable international careers of some now household names in the sport.
With the world’s premier aquatics event return to the Japanese city, World Aquatics catches up with some of the teenage stars competing at these championships who may just become the next batch of Fukuoka breakout stars.
Blanka Barbocz (15) & Angelika Bastianelli (15) | Artistic Swimming | Hungary
Hungary’s teenage duo of Blanka Barbocz and Angelika Bastianelli are amongst the youngest athletes in the Artistic Swimming competition in Fukuoka, and unlike many of their peers face the challenge of finding sufficient time to train. Juggling World Cup appearances in Canada, France and Spain this year with attending high school five days a week, the pair credit their four-hour training sessions every weeknight for their recent emergence onto the world scene.
“In a lot of other countries swimmers that are our age don’t have to go to school,” Barbocz told World Aquatics.
“But for us, in Hungry, we can’t manage that, so both me and Angie will go to school and then train from five until nine every night.”
The pair’s World Aquatics Championships campaign got underway on the first day of competition, scoring 173.80 in the Women’s Duet Technical to place 27th in the Preliminary round.
Following the Japanese team into the water during the evening session, Barbocz said hearing the loud crowd while they were waiting to perform gave the pair even more motivation to deliver a world-class performance.
“I heard the crowd and it sent shivers down my spine,” said Barbocz.
“It made me even more motivated - it was an amazing feeling.”
Despite their young ages, the teenagers told World Aquatics they had already been swimming for eight years and couldn’t help but think ahead to possible competition opportunities including next year’s World Aquatics Championships in Doha and the Paris Olympics.
“We want to go to the Olympics, it’s a big dream,” Bastianelli told World Aquatics.
“It would be so good as we train a lot for this.”
Barbocz shared her teammate’s optimism, and said she was ready to take the next step.
“It’s very cool competing here at such a young age,” said Barbocz.
“I’m very grateful to be here, I’m super excited, and now our main goal is to now get more experience.”
The pair will compete in both the Women’s Duet Free and Women' Duet Technical in Fukuoka.