Gators Compete at World Aquatics Championships – Fukuoka 2023

Gators Compete at World Aquatics Championships

Gators Compete at World Aquatics Championships – Fukuoka 2023

Tuesday, July 18, 2023 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

Eight Countries Represented; Competition Runs Through July 30 in Fukuoka, Japan

By: Abby Wisecup

FUKUOKA, Japan. – The Gators' swimming and diving programs have 15 current and former swimmers on rosters for the World Aquatics Championships. Those 15 swimmers represent eight of the countries competing in Fukuoka, Japan that began on Friday, July 14.

On the men's side, 12 Gators from seven countries will be competing for gold. Graduate student Brennan Gravely and rising senior Jake Mitchell will both be representing USA. Other current Gators set to compete are rising senior Amro Al-Wir (Jordan), rising junior Aryan Nehra (India) and rising sophomores Joshua Liendo (Canada), Eric Brown (Canada), and Aleksas Savickas (Lithuania). Closing out the male competitors are 2023 graduates Alberto Mestre and Alfonso Mestre, representing Venezuela, and Eric Friese who is representing Germany.

Gravley and Brown both competed in the Men's 10km on Saturday, July 15. Gravley recorded a 1:54.13 in the men's 10km to finish 30^th overall, with Brown finishing close behind in 32^nd place after recording a 1:55.31. on Monday, July 17. Gravley competed in the Men's 5km, where he finished 17^th after recording a 56:48.50.

At the professional ranks, Bobby Finke and Kieran Smith are both representing USA. Finke is set to compete in the 800 Free and the 1500 Free, with Smith competing in the 200 and 400 Freestyle.

Two former Gators are diving on the women's side. Elizabeth Perez is representing Venezuela and Maha Amer is representing Egypt. The 2022 and 2023 graduates both competed in the 1-meter, where Amer finished fifth overall after recording 264.55. Perez finished prelims in 32^nd with a mark of 213.10. Both will compete in the women's 3-meter prelims on Wednesday, July 19.

Incoming Florida freshman, Bella Sims, is scheduled to compete in the 200 and 400 Freestyle.

The World Championships last through Sunday, July 30. Live results and a television schedule can be found here.

Complete list of Gator swimmers:

USA: Bobby Finke, Kiernan Smith, Jake Mitchell, Brennan Gravley, Bella Sims
Canada: Joshua Liendo and Eric Brown
Venezuela: Alberto Mestre, Alfonso Mestre, Elizabeth Perez
Egypt: Maha Amer
Germany: Eric Friese
Jordan: Amro Al-Wir
Lithuania: Aleksas Savickas
India: Aryan Nehra

Finals Schedule:

Saturday 7/15: 2:00am – 7pm (Eastern Time)
Women's 1m springboard; Men's 10km

Monday 7/17: 9:00pm (Eastern Time)
Men's 5km

Wednesday 7/19: 7:00pm (Eastern Time)
Mixed 5x1500

Friday 7/21: 5:00am (Eastern Time)
Women's 3m springboard

Sunday 7/23: 7:00am (Eastern Time)
Men's 400 Free

Monday 7/24: 7:00am (Eastern Time)
Men's 100 Breast; Men's 50m Fly

Tuesday 7/25: 7:00am (Eastern Time)
Men's 200m Free

Wednesday 7/26: 7:00am (Eastern Time)
Men's 800m Free

Thursday 7/27: 7:00am (Eastern Time)
Men's 100m Free

Friday 7/28: 7:00am (Eastern Time)
Men's 200m Breast

Saturday 7/29: 7:00am (Eastern Time)
Men's 50m Free; men's 100m Fly

Sunday 7/30: 7:00am (Eastern Time)
Men's 1500m Free

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