Anika Apostalon Will Compete For Czech Republic at European Championships

21 FEB 2014: The Mountain West Conference Swimming and Diving Championships are held at the Palo Alto College Aquatic Center in San Antonio, TX. Ashley Landis/NCAA Photos

Anika Apostalon. Photo Courtesy: Ashley Landis/Mountain West Conference

Anika Apostalon will be putting on a new swimming cap this month.

The U.S.-born swimmer will compete for the Czech Republic team for the 2018 European Championships, which begin in August in Glasgow, Scotland, the federation announced Monday.

She made the semifinals at the U.S. Olympic trials in 2016 in the 50-meter freestyle, but the Albuquerque, New Mexico, native will continue her international career competing for the Czech Republic after gaining dual citizenship.

Apostalon was named the Pac-12 Woman of the Year in 2017 after a career that totaled nine All-American honors at USC after transferring from San Diego State.

At the Czech Swimming Championships in Prague this weekend, Apostalon won the 100-meter freestyle in 54.28, setting a new Czech record. She also swam the 50 free in 25.28 to qualify for the European Championships in both events.

Barbara Seemanova, Jan Micka and Lucie Svecena also qualified. Micka swept the distance events, winning the 400 free in 3:49.68, the 800 free (7:51.46) and the 1,500 (15:10.42).

Svecena won the 100 fly in 59.75 to qualify for the European Championships. Seemanova qualified in the 100 free at 55.42.

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