{"id":439216,"date":"2020-07-08T14:48:20","date_gmt":"2020-07-08T21:48:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=439216"},"modified":"2020-07-08T14:48:20","modified_gmt":"2020-07-08T21:48:20","slug":"fina-world-juniors-finalist-ekaterina-nikonova-verbally-commits-to-florida-gators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/fina-world-juniors-finalist-ekaterina-nikonova-verbally-commits-to-florida-gators\/","title":{"rendered":"FINA World Juniors Finalist Ekaterina Nikonova Verbally Commits to Florida Gators"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW COMMIT:\u00a0<\/strong>The University of Florida has recently gained a big verbal commitment for the fall of 2021 from Ekaterina Nikonova\u00a0<\/strong>of Novosibirsk, Russia.<\/p>\n

She will join\u00a0Olivia Peoples<\/strong><\/a>, Anna Auld<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Mary Kate Kelley<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Micayla Cronk<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Brooke Zettel<\/strong><\/a>, and\u00a0Georgia Bates<\/strong>\u00a0in Gainesville as a member of the class of 2025.<\/p>\n

Regarding her commitment, she said:<\/p>\n

“I am beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Florida! I am very blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing team. All of my friends, family, coaches and teachers have been so supportive in this entire process and I could not be more thankful to have them in my life and by my side. Go Gators!”<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Nikonova is a talented sprint freestyler who represents the Russian Swimming Federation internationally. She placed sixth in the 100m free and advanced to the semi-finals of the 50m free at the 7th FINA World Juniors Championships last summer.\u00a0 At the LEN European Junior Championships in 2019, she raced to the bronze medal in the 50m free and took seventh in the 100m free.<\/p>\n

In LCM, her best times include:<\/p>\n