FINA World Juniors Finalist Ekaterina Nikonova Verbally Commits to Florida Gators

Photo Courtesy: Ekaterina Nikonova via CollegeSwimming

NEW COMMIT: The University of Florida has recently gained a big verbal commitment for the fall of 2021 from Ekaterina Nikonova of Novosibirsk, Russia.

She will join Olivia Peoples, Anna Auld, Mary Kate Kelley, Micayla Cronk, Brooke Zettel, and Georgia Bates in Gainesville as a member of the class of 2025.

Regarding her commitment, she said:

“I am beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Florida! I am very blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing team. All of my friends, family, coaches and teachers have been so supportive in this entire process and I could not be more thankful to have them in my life and by my side. Go Gators!”

Nikonova is a talented sprint freestyler who represents the Russian Swimming Federation internationally. She placed sixth in the 100m free and advanced to the semi-finals of the 50m free at the 7th FINA World Juniors Championships last summer. At the LEN European Junior Championships in 2019, she raced to the bronze medal in the 50m free and took seventh in the 100m free.

In LCM, her best times include:

50m free – 25.32
100m free – 55.02
200m free – 2:00.57
400m free – 4:20.70
100m back – 1:03.07
200m back – 2:16.37

In SCY, those times convert to:

50 free – 22.39
100 free – 48.72
200 free – 1:46.36
400 free – 4:51.86
100 back – 54.58
200 back – 1:59.05

Nikonova will be a valuable asset to the Gators’ sprint group both individually and on relays when she arrives in Gainesville in the fall of 2021. Her best times (converted to yards) are already fast enough to score in the B-final of the 100 free and the C-final of the 50/200 free at the 2020 SEC Championships.

If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.

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Thomas A. Small

3 years ago

Congratulations