UFÕs Joshua Liendo dives into the water as the Gators host Nova Southeastern University at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, February 2, 2024. (Lee Ann Anderson/WRUF)

Florida Swimming & Diving off to Record Setting Start in NCAA Championships

Florida men’s swimming and diving is making a statement to start the NCAA championships in Atlanta, highlighted by a pair of national championship performances. Freshman Ahmed Jaouadi won the 1,650 freestyle national championship with an NCAA record time of 14:10.03. Jaouadi shattered former Gator Bobby Finke’s record time of 4:12.08 that was set at the 2020 SEC Championships.

Jaouadi outdueled a two-time defending champion in Indiana’s Zalan Sarkany for his first national championship as a Gator. He was a three-time SEC Freshman of the Week throughout the regular season and also claimed a gold medal in the 1,650 freestyle in the SEC Championships.

Thursday morning, senior Josh Liendo broke a record that many considered to be untouchable. Liendo broke former Gator Caeleb Dressel’s 42.80 record in the 100-meter butterfly during the preliminary round with a time of 42.54. He then followed up the performance by breaking his own record to claim his 13th NCAA championship, with a time of 42.49.

He outdueled Texas swimmer Hubert Kos and Arizona State’s Ilya Kharun in the finals, who became the third and fourth swimmers to ever break 43 seconds. Liendo is also a two-time Olympian and an Olympic silver medalist in the 100m butterfly.

Through the first two days in the pool, Florida is projected to be trailing only Texas in the overall team leaderboard. The Gators have 15 podium finishers, with three swimmers placing in the top five of the 1,650 freestyle. Florida also claimed second in the 200-yard medley relay and 200 freestyle relay. The Gators are chasing their first team national title since going back-to-back in 1983 and 1984.

Five more swimming national champions will be crowned on Friday, starting with the 100-yard backstroke championship at 6:06 p.m. The second diving champion will be crowned later in the night with three-meter diving at 7:07 p.m. All championship events will be aired live on ESPN+ from the McAuley Aquatic Center.

Category: Gators Swimming and Diving