ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Georgia Tech swimming sent eight athletes to the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships from Dec. 16-21. Tech swimmers made it to the finals of their events and broke national records.
“I’m very proud of our athletes who competed at Short Course Worlds in Abu Dhabi. They had several national team records and quite a few personal bests. It was great to see Georgia Tech swimmers representing Georgia Tech on the international stage,” Toni M. and Richard L. Bergmark Swimming and Diving Head Coach Courtney Shealy Hart said.
Caio Pumputis made it to the 200 breast finals clocking in at 2:06.29 while also qualifying for the semifinals of the 100 IM after swimming the second fastest time (51.99) during the heats portion of the event.
Pumputis swam the breaststroke leg of the 400 medley relay for the Brazilian side that made it the finals of the event. After coming in fourth (3:26.30) in the heats portion of the 400 medley relay, Pumputis and his Brazilian teammates finished fourth (3:23.57) in the finals.
In total, Yellow Jackets swimmers broke four individual records and two relay records at Short Course Worlds.
The first record broken came on the first day of the meet when Berke Saka set the 17-18 year-old Turkish record in the 200 IM (1:55.87). His time is 0.80 seconds shy of the open age Turkish record.
Two more national records were broken by Mert Kilavuz. The distance swimmer from Turkey clocked in at 14:39.76 in the 1500 free setting the open age record for his country. His split in the 800 free (7:43.64) was also a national record.
The final individual record was set by Imane El Barodi in the 50 free. Representing Morocco, she clocked in at 26.32. El Barodi also set a new personal best in the 50 breast (31.89) at Short Course Worlds.
Team relays were also a source of national records for Jackets swimmers. The men’s 800 free relay team from Turkey, consisting of three Tech swimmers, Batur Ünlü, Kilavuz and Saka, set the national record (7:07.33) in the finals of the event.
Taking the pool for Slovakia, Zora Ripkova, swam the second leg of the 400 free relay. Her leg was the fastest (54.70) of the team that set the Slovakian national record (3:41.86).
In total, Georgia Tech swimmers competed in 27 events. Below is a list of how they did:
- Batur Ünlü – 200 free (1:44.79, 20th); 400 free (3:45.66, 29th); 400 free relay (3:17.10, 12th); 800 free relay (7:08.89, 8th, heats), (7:07.33, 8th, finals); Mixed 200 free relay (1:34.15, 9th)
- Berke Saka – 200 back (1:54.14, 17th); 100 IM (53.90, 24th); 200 IM (1:55.87, 15th); 400 free relay (3:17.10, 12th); 800 free relay (7:08.89, 8th, heats), (7:07.33, 8th, finals)
- Caio Pumputis – 200 breast (2:04.61, 6th, heats), (2:06.29, 8th, finals); 100 IM (51.99, 2nd, heats), (52.65, 14th, semifinals); 200 IM (1:54.57, 10th); 200 medley relay (1:33.21, 3rd, heats); 400 medley relay (3:26.30, 4th, heats), (3:23.57, 4th, finals)
- Defne Taçyildiz – 200 fly (2:10.52, 23rd)
- Deniz Ertan – 400 IM (4:40.39, 21st); 400 free relay (3:49.31, 13th); 800 free relay (7:59.49, 9th)
- Imane El Barodi – 50 Free (26.32, 45th); 50 breast (31.89, 35th)
- Mert Kilavuz – 1500 free (14:39.76, 10th); 800 free relay (7:08.89, 8th, heats), (7:07.33, 8th, finals)
- Zora Ripkova – 200 fly (2:11.41, 25th); 400 free relay (3:41.86, 11th); 200 medley relay (1:50.33, 12th); Mixed 200 medley relay (1:18.54, 14th)
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