Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech swimming and diving team will be well represented next week at the World University Games with four swimmers competing for their respective countries, including Gershwin Greene, Reka Gyorgy, Klaudia Nazieblo and Robert Owen. The games will be held in Taipei, Taiwan, featuring fourteen sports over 13 days. The swimming event will be held Aug. 20 – 27.
“We are thrilled to have this level of representation from our program on the international stage”, said head coach Ned Skinner. “This summer has been one of tremendous momentum for our program as we have had our athletes compete at the 2017 FINA World Championships, 2017 U.S. Summer Nationals and 2017 U.S. Open Championships. There truly is no better way for us to finish off the summer long course season than with another meet of this prestige.”
Representing four countries, this marks the most swimming student-athletes sent by Virginia Tech to the World University Games.
Gershwin Greene
Representing: Bahamas
Events: 50 Freestyle / 100 Freestyle
Class: Freshman
Gershwin has competed at some of the highest international levels. He finished fifteenth overall in the 50 free at the 2016 Junior Pan Pacific Championships and was a member of three state championship teams at the Baylor School (Tenn.).
“Gershwin is an incoming freshman at Virginia Tech and already brings a wealth of international experience to our program,” said Skinner. “We look to him to come in this fall and immediately help us individually as well as on relays. He will be one to watch during the lead-up to the 2020 Olympics.”
Reka Gyorgy
Representing: Hungary
Events: 100 Backstroke / 400 IM
Class: Sophomore
Gyorgy claimed the ACC gold medal this past season in the 400 IM en route to finishing eighth at NCAAs to earn All-American honors. She competed for Hungary at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 200 back, finishing 22nd overall.
“Reka has had a career that many athletes dream of having and she is only a rising sophomore,” said Skinner. “She is coming off of a 2016-17 season that saw her make her first Olympic team, win her first ACC title and earn her first All-American honor. She is a special athlete and we look forward to watching her compete next week.”
Klaudia Nazieblo
Representing: Poland
Events: 50 Backstroke / 100 Backstroke / 200 Backstroke / 200 Butterfly / 400 Medley Relay
Class: Senior
Nazieblo, a five-time All-American, won the ACC silver medal this past season in the 200 fly and reached the A finals in the 100 and 200 back events. She competed in 15 different events for the Hokies in 2016-17.
“Klaudia is coming into her own as an elite athlete,” stated Skinner. “She competed earlier this month at the 2017 World Championships and is coming off of a collegiate season that saw her truly establish herself as one of the most versatile athletes in the ACC. She is setting the stage for a tremendous senior season.”
Robert Owen
Representing: United States
Events: 200 Backstroke
Class: Graduated
A member of the USA Swimming National Team, Owen graduated as one of the most decorated swimmers in program history. Owen earned six All-American honors overall and claimed three ACC golds in the 400 IM during his career. Last summer at the Olympic Trials, Owen reached the finals in the 200 back, finishing sixth.
“Robert Owen will be written down in Virginia Tech history books as one of the most decorated student-athletes to come through our doors,” said Skinner. “He is coming off of a 2016-17 season that saw him make his first US National Team, three-peat as ACC Champion in the 400 IM and earn is first All-American award. He has truly put in the work and put himself in a position to make a splash in Taipei next week and establish himself as a true contender for a spot on the US Olympic team in 2020.”
World University Games – Swimming (Link)