By James Sutherland on SwimSwam
SwimSwam Pulse is a recurring feature tracking and analyzing the results of our periodic A3 Performance Polls. You can cast your vote in our newest poll on the SwimSwam homepage, about halfway down the page on the right side.
Our most recent poll asked SwimSwam readers which reigning World Junior champion they’re most bullish on taking the next step this year:
Question: If you had to pick one, which 2025 World Junior champion are you buying stock in for 2026?
RESULTS
Rylee Erisman – 67.8% Filip Nowacki – 12.1% Audrey Derivaux – 4.5% John Shortt – 3.8% Carlos D’Ambrosio – 3.4% Kuzey Tuncelli – 3.1% Yang Peiqi – 2.0% Mizuki Hirai – 1.8% Charlotte Crush – 1.1% Tajus Juska – 0.4%Rylee Erisman was the runaway winner in our most recent poll asking SwimSwam readers which reigning World Junior champion they’re backing for a big year in 2026.
Erisman, who still has two more years of eligibility to compete at the junior level, made a major impact on the world rankings last year and earned a spot on the U.S. senior roster for the Pan Pacific Championships later this year.
Though the 16-year-old missed out on qualifying for the World Championships at U.S. Nationals in June, she had a strong showing with a trio of ‘B’ final wins and 9th-place finishes in the women’s 50 free (24.74), 100 free (53.90) and 200 free (1:57.29) while also taking 8th in the 100 back (59.39) and 10th in the 50 back (28.08).
Erisman then exploded at the World Junior Championships two months later, winning gold in the girls’ 50 free (24.70) and 100 free (52.79), setting a new Championship and U.S. 15-16 National Age Group Record in the latter while coming within nine one-hundredths of the World Junior Record.
That swim in the 100 free ranked Erisman 6th in the world in 2025 and earned her a berth on the Pan Pac team, putting her in a position to do some damage on the senior international stage this year after piling up medals at Junior Pan Pacs in 2024 and then World Juniors last year.
2025 World Rankings, Women’s 100 Freestyle (LCM) (Jan. 1-Dec. 31)
Torri Huske (USA), 52.43 – 2025 U.S. National Championships Marrit Steenbergen (NED), 52.55 – 2025 World Championships Meg Harris (AUS), 52.56 – 2025 Queensland Championships Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS), 52.67 – 2025 World Championships Gretchen Walsh (USA), 52.78 – 2025 U.S. National Championships Rylee Erisman (USA), 52.79 – 2025 World Junior Championships Simone Manuel (USA), 52.83 – 2025 U.S. National Championships Siobhan Haughey (HKG), 52.89 – 2025 Chinese National Games Milou Van Wijk (NED), 52.91 – 2025 World Championships Daria Klepikova (RUS), 52.98 – 2025 World ChampionshipsIn December, Erisman showed off some more of her range, clocking 1:40.93 in the SCY 200 free to obliterate Katie Ledecky‘s 15-16 NAG record while also going 4:34 in the 500 free, displaying a rare level of versatility from the 50 to the 500.
Erisman earned 67.8% of votes in the poll, and the only other swimmer picking up more than 10% was British breaststroker Filip Nowacki.
Nowacki lit up the junior scene in 2025, winning gold in the boys’ 100 and 200 breast at both the European Junior Championships in July and the World Junior Championships in August.
He finished the year ranked 3rd globally in the 200 breast at 2:07.32, even higher than Erisman did in the 100 free, while in the 100 breast, Nowacki sat 14th in the world at the end of 2025 at 59.20.
Despite ranking 3rd in the world in the 200 breast, Nowacki was still only the second-fastest junior, with Japan’s Shin Ohashi owning the top time in 2025 after setting a new World Junior Record of 2:06.91 at the Japanese High School Championships in July. Ohashi did not compete at World Juniors (or Worlds), so he was not included in the poll.
Also earning a solid chunk of votes was versatile American talent Audrey Derivaux, who won World Junior golds in the girls’ 200 back, 200 fly and 200 IM, while Irish backstroker John Shortt had a strong finish to the year at the European SC Championships to rank 4th in the poll, just ahead of Italian freestyle phenom Carlos D’Ambrosio.
One thing working against Derivaux is that she did not qualify for the U.S. Pan Pac roster, so she won’t compete at the biggest meet for U.S. swimmers in 2026, while Erisman did earn a spot, and the likes of Nowacki, Shortt, and D’Ambrosio still have the chance to book their ticket to the European Championships.
Below, vote in our new A3 Performance Poll, which asks: Will the men’s 200 back world record finally go down this year?
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.ABOUT A3 PERFORMANCE
A3 Performance is an independently-owned, performance swimwear company built on a passion for swimming, athletes, and athletic performance. We encourage swimmers to swim better and faster at all ages and levels, from beginners to Olympians. Driven by a genuine leader and devoted staff that are passionate about swimming and service, A3 Performance strives to inspire and enrich the sport of swimming with innovative and impactful products that motivate swimmers to be their very best – an A3 Performer.The A3 Performance Poll is courtesy of A3 Performance, a SwimSwam partner.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: SwimSwam Pulse: Nearly 70% Back Erisman As Top 2026 Stock Among World Junior Champs
Hence then, the article about swimswam pulse nearly 70 back erisman as top 2026 stock among world junior champs was published today ( ) and is available on swimswam ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( SwimSwam Pulse: Nearly 70% Back Erisman As Top 2026 Stock Among World Junior Champs )
Also on site :
- ESPN purges MMA on-air talent after losing UFC rights to Paramount
- The Blackhawks Are On EBUG ALERT!
- Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest live: Hosts feel pressure as Douglas Luiz has goal ruled out for handball