Olympic champion Lydia Jacoby is turning pro.
The breaststroker from Alaska will forgo her eligibility at the University of Texas and become a professional swimmer.
Jacoby made her announcement on Instgram.
“After careful consideration and with the support of my coaches and loved ones, I have decided to forgo my collegiate eligibility to pursue professional swimming. I committed to Texas long before my life was forever changed at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020, and am glad I honored that commitment,” Lydia Jacoby wrote. “I have absolutely loved my two seasons of swimming for the Longhorns and I’m eternally grateful for the coaching staff and my teammates at Texas. I’m continuing to work on my degree in advertising at the University of Texas and am excited for the future.”
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Lydia Jacoby shocked the world in 2021 when she made the Olympic team as a teen from Alaska, then won Olympic gold in the 100 breaststroke in stunning fashion.
In her two years at Texas, whe won the 100 breaststroke in 2023 and was All-Americain in that event another time. She was a B finalist in the 200 breaststroke both times, helping the Longhorns to finish as NCAA runnes-up both seasons.
Jacoby took third in the 100 breaststroke at the 2024 Olympic Swimming Trials in Indianapolis and barely missed out on making her second Olympic team.
Where are you training and congrats!!!