The breaststroker has earned over a dozen podium finishes across Europe since 2019.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida’s Swimming & Diving program welcomes Dutch swimmer Koen de Groot to the men’s 2025-26 roster.
“We are thrilled to welcome Koen to our program,” said Florida’s Head Coach Anthony Nesty<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-swimming-and-diving/roster/coaches/anthony-nesty/1941>. “We’re confident he’ll thrive in our environment and make an immediate impact.”
A native of Eindhoven, Netherlands, de Groot joins the Gators with a list of impressive performances on the international stage. Most recently, he broke the Dutch national record in the 50-meter breaststroke at the World Championships in Singapore, winning his semifinal heat in 26.71 and finishing seventh overall in the final with a time of 26.81.
In total, de Groot has earned over a dozen podium finishes across Europe since 2019, claiming multiple national titles across short-course and long-course formats in the Netherlands, including:
* Nederlandse Kampioenschappen (25m) – Dec 2024
* 1st – 100m Breaststroke – 56.86
* 1st – 50m Breaststroke – 26.29
* Nederlandse Kampioenschappen (LCM) – Jun 2024
* 1st – 50m Breaststroke – 27.39
* 2nd – 100m Breaststroke – 1:00.30
* 3rd – 50m Freestyle – 22.83
His 2023 season featured a 4th-place finish in the 50m breaststroke at the European Short Course Championships, silver medals in both the 50m and 100m breast at the LEN European U23 Championships, and a national title at the Sommer Schweizermeisterschaft in Switzerland.
De Groot becomes the eighth newcomer to join Florida since the program announced its initial signees last November. At that time, five female swimmers<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-swimming-and-diving/archives?search=&sport=swimmingdiving-women&season=0>, two male swimmers,<https://floridagators.com/news/2024/11/18/mens-swimming-diving-florida-men-sign-two-swimmers-gator-diving-adds-two-to-2025-signing-class.aspx> and two divers<https://floridagators.com/news/2024/11/18/mens-swimming-diving-florida-men-sign-two-swimmers-gator-diving-adds-two-to-2025-signing-class.aspx> committed to the 2025-26 season. Since then, Maria Fernanda Garcia Sixtos, Beatriz Bezzera, Nil Cadevall, Alex Cohoon, Charlie Hustison, Alexa Fung and Aspen Gerspers have also pledged to join the Gators in August.
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