Performance of the Week: Justina Kozan’s 200 Freestyle

Photo Courtesy: Mary Pruden

This week’s Performance of the Week goes to 12 year old Justina Kozan, who broke a 40 year old Southern California Swimming record at the Thursday night session of the Summer JO Champs in Riverside. Touching in 2:05.63 to win the 11-12 year old 200 freestyle by six seconds, the Brea Aquatics swimmer also erased Olympian Sippy Woodhead’s record of 2:05.80 from 1976. Taking the race out in 1:01.52 (29.41, 32.11), Kozan closed in a 1:04.01 (32.56, 31.55) with an impressive 31.55 down the last 50 to finish the race.

That record is owned by one of the most decorated swimmers to come out of Southern California. Sippy Woodhead went on to become a three time World Champion by the time she was 14 and was a multi-event medal favorite at the boycotted 1980 Olympic Games. Woodhead went on to win a silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games and set seven world records during her career, and was present at the JO meet cheering on her own children when Kozan broke her record. Kozan also won the 50 butterfly, 100 butterfly, 100 freestyle, and 200 IM over the course of the meet.

Congratulations Justina Kozan on earning Swimming World’s Performance of the Week!

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Trish Lowe

7 years ago

So proud of you Justina. You always amaze us. Taylor wishes you were at MVN with us. See you in a few months at the first meet of the season.