Josh Liendo Takes Gold in SEC Swim and Dive Championships
The Gators can see the light at the end of the tunnel with only two days left of the 2026 Swim and Dive SEC championships in Knoxville, Tennessee. Now it’s time to empty the tank.
One Gators swimmer did just that. Canadian senior and Olympic silver medalist Josh Liendo took his fourth-straight SEC title in the 100-meter butterfly. He tied for the second-fastest time in program history and set the SEC meet record with a time of 43.06. His time tied his own record from the 2025 NCAA tournament last March.
Liendo was named the first Gator to ever win four consecutive SEC gold medals in the 100-meter butterfly, and only the second to win four straight titles in any event. The first Gator to achieve that feat was Mike Heath, who swam for Florida from 1983-1986. Heath won SEC gold twice in the 200-meter freestyle, twice in the 100-yard freestyle and once in the 500-meter freestyle. He later became a three-time Olympic gold medalist.
Liendo was all gas and no breaks. He was also a part of the men’s 400-meter medley relay, accompanied by junior and Olympian Johnny Marshall, senior Koen de Groot, and sophomore Devin Dilger. The team clocked in at 2:48.59, taking home silver medals and third-fastest time in program history.
Gators junior Scotty Buff also joined his fellow teammates in the 100-meter butterfly championship final and placed fourth overall (44.53).
Women’s Swim
Florida women’s swim team also achieved the third-fastest time in program history for the 400-medley relay. The team consisted of junior Catie Choate, sophomore Anita Bottazzo, freshman Grace Rabb and sophomore Beatriz Bezerra. The quartet recorded a time of 3:27.69 in the event and took fourth place.
Freshman and Olympian Julie Brousseau took fourth place in the 400-meter IM final (4:06.61). Along with sophomore Sofia Plaza (4:11.64) who took seventh.
Day Five
Friday’s 9:30 a.m. finals include the 200-meter breast stroke, and 50-meter freestyle. Followed by men’s diving platform preliminaries at noon. The finals for all these events begin at 5:30 p.m. and the swimmers will finish off the day with the 200-meter freestyle relay.
Category: Gators in Olympics, Gators Swimming and Diving, Olympics, SEC
