Alabama Adds Turkish National Teamer Sezin Eligul to Class of 2021

Photo Courtesy: Sezin Eligul

Sezin Eligul, a member of the Turkish National Team, has committed to swim for the University of Alabama beginning this season. Eligul is from Turkey where she trains with Fenerbache Swimming Club. She trains under Ibrahim Aksoy, who has been her coach since she was nine.

Eligul told Swimming World,

“I’m so excited to announce my official commitment to The University of Alabama! The only NCAA team with two coaches on the staff who have developed Olympic gold medalists; Head Coach Dennis Pursley and Associate Head Coach Jonty Skinner. The swim team is much more like a family. Also, it has the best balance of academics and excellence athletically is what brought me to Alabama Crimson Tide. Roll Tide!!!”

Some of her best times are (LCM/SCM/SCY conversion):

50 Free: 26.52/ 25.30/ 22.69
100 Free: 56.73/ 55.33/ 49.75
200 Free: 2:03.12/ 1:59.57/ 1:47.91
100 Fly 1:02.08/ 59.90/ 53.91
200 IM: 2:19.54/ 2:17.00/ 2:03.42

Eligul has extensive international experience. She’s been a member of the National Team since she was 13 and holds a number of Turkish National records. In 2014 Eligul was a European Junior finalist in the 50 fly and semifinalist in the 50 backstroke. Later that year she swam the 50 fly at Short Course Worlds in Doha. Eligul raced in the 2015 European Championships and World Junior Championships before finaling again in the 50 fly at the 2016 European Junior Championships.

If Eligul can make the transition to yards and swim as fast as her converted times, she’s a great addition to Alabama’s sprinting crew. Her converted (from SCM) 50 freestyle time would have put her in the B final at the 2017 SEC Championships. Juniors Bailey Scott (21.84) and Temarie Tomley (22.80) were the Tide’s only scorers in that event. Eligul would also slip into the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle and 100 fly C finals.

To report a college commitment email HS@swimmingworld.com.

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