Gators Gercsak and Proud Set to Kick Off Swimming Competition at 2009 World University Games
Thursday, July 2, 2009 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Two University of Florida swimmers, Balazs Gercsak (Budapest, Hungary) and Stephanie Proud (Durham, England), are set to represent the Gators at the 2009 World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia, the first of several upcoming national and international summer swimming competitions. The 25th anniversary summer Universiade extends July 1-12, while the swimming portion of the Games takes place July 5-11 from Tasmajdan, the Sports & Recreation Center in Belgrade.
“Both Balazs and Steph had outstanding college seasons and have been very successful on moving the success to the long course pool,” head coach Gregg Troy said. “Steph's swims at the British Trials and Balazs' at the Hungarian Nationals were very big improvements for them. It's a great honor for them to represent their respective countries at the World University Games.”
Gercsak, a two-time All-American and second-team All-SEC selection last season, shattered a 23-year-old Florida record in the 500-yard freestyle at the 2009 NCAA Championship meet and holds a UF top-ten all-time mark in the 200-yard butterfly. In addition to his success with the Gators, Gercsak is a veteran to international competition after representing his native country, Hungary, at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympiads, where he swam the 400-meter freestyle.
Proud, who will be representing Great Britain in Belgrade, had a breakout junior season with the 2009 SEC Champion Gators, racking up four All-America honors, bringing her career total to six at UF. Most notably, Proud was a member of the Gator trio that swept first through third in the 200-yard backstroke at both the 2009 SEC Championship meet and most impressively at the 2009 NCAA Championship meet. Proud's competitive edge in the 400-yard IM earned her the second-fastest time all-time for the Gators, also a career-best mark in the event, for her second place SEC finish in the event.
An additional two UF swimmers, Rex Tullius (Port Orange, Fla.) and Clark Burckle (Louisville, Ky.), were named to the U.S. World University Games swimming roster after their respective performances at the 2008 U.S. Open, but chose to waive the invite in order to prepare for the upcoming 2009 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships, which start July 7 in Indianapolis, Ind., and serve as the trials for the FINA World Championships.
Gator fans can follow Gercsak and Proud in Serbia by clicking HERE for the 2009 World University Games swimming and diving competition schedule. To track the World University Games, including complete results, scores, times and highlights, visit the WUG home page.
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