Duke Blue Devils Get Verbal from Distance Ace Emily Gjersten of Badger Swim Club

Photo Courtesy: Emily Gjersten

NEW COMMIT: Eastchester, N.Y. native Emily Gjertsen will join the Blue Devils next fall after verbally committing to Duke University.

Primarily a distance freestyler, Gjertsen swims year-round with Badger Swim Club and owns three U.S. Open standards. She most recently recorded a best time in the 1500m free at Phillips 66 Nationals after earning the Olympic Trials cut with a runner-up finish in the 800m free at Metropolitan Seniors. Last winter, she finished 17th in the 500 free at Juniors East before securing gold in both the 400m free and 1500m free at TYR Junior Nationals.

Also competing for Bronxville-Tuckahoe High School, Gjertsen is a five-time New York Federation Championship finalist. She took second in the 500 free and ninth in the 200 free as a junior after finishing 16th and 19th, respectively, in those events during her sophomore season.

She told Swimming World:

“I am so excited to give my verbal commitment to Duke University. The coaches and team members were all amazing throughout the process. I look forward to contributing and being part of such a great team. Go Duke!”

Her best times include:

200 free – 1:51.63
500 free – 4:51.15
1000 free – 9:56.00
1650 free – 16:33.39
400 IM – 4:25.15

Even with a year of club swimming still to go before arriving in Durham as a member of the class of 2024, Gjertsen will make an immediate impact and will have two years of overlap with top returning distance swimmer Lucy Callard. She would’ve placed 13th in the mile – Duke’s highest finisher in the event – at the 2019 ACC Championships where the Blue Devils finished fifth overall in the team standings.

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