Josh Liendo and Bella Sims earn Swimmer of the Week, while Alexander Painter and Anita Bottazzo tab Freshman of the Week.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – For their efforts in the No. 4/4 Gators dual meet against No. 2/6 Indiana on Jan. 3, four swimmers received Southeastern Conference weekly honors, announced by the league Tuesday afternoon. Josh Liendo and Bella Sims were named SEC Swimmer of the Week, while Alexander Painter and Anita Bottazzo tab SEC Freshman of the Week.
SEC Men’s Swimmer of the Week – Josh Liendo
The 2024 Paris Olympic silver medalist swept his three individual events against the Hoosiers and was part of Florida’s winning 200 medley relay team. The junior recorded an NCAA B-cut time in the 50 free after touching the wall in 19.32 and swam a season-best 43.40 in the 100 free. The Scarborough, Canada native recorded a 47.13 in the 100 fly, while posting a 20.11 fly split in Florida’s 200 medley relay team who finished in first with a time of 1:25.40.
It marks the first weekly award for Liendo this season and the fifth SEC Swimmer of the Week honor of his career.
SEC Men’s Freshman of the Week – Alexander Painter
Painter collects his second-career Freshman of the Week accolade after earning three podium finishes against No. 2 Indiana. The Somerton, England native anchored Florida’s winning 200 medley relay team with a 19.49 free split, and recorded the fastest split (43.53) in the Gators 400 free relay that finished second with a time of 2:56.00. In his two individual events, the freshman took third in the 50 free (20.12) and tied for fifth with his fellow freshman teammate, Devin Dilger, in the 100 free after touching the wall in 44.59.
SEC Women’s Swimmer of the Week – Bella Sims
The Henderson, Nevada native recorded three NCAA B-cut times en route to three individual first-place finishes in the Gators win over No. 6 Indiana. The sophomore swept the backstroke events, posting a 52.07 time in the 100 back before going 1:54.77 in the 200 back. The 2020 Tokyo Olympian swam a season-best 52.84 in the 100 fly, and clocked a 49.44 lead-off split in Florida’s winning 400 free relay team (3:18.63).
It marks the second weekly award for the 2024 SEC Female Swimmer & Freshman of the Year this season.
SEC Women’s Freshman of the Week – Anita Bottazzo
Bottazzo earned her first weekly award of her career after tallying two event wins and one NCAA B-cut time in the Gators win over No. 6 Indiana. The freshman won the 100 breast with a B-cut time of 1:00.63, while swimming 2:17.51 in the 200 breast for seventh. Additionally, the Imola, Italy native recorded a 28.00 breast split in Florida’s winning 200 medley relay team.
Week 8 SEC Awards
Men’s Swimmer
Josh Liendo, Florida
Men’s Diver
Bennett Greene, Tennessee
Men’s Freshman
Alexander Painter, Florida
Women’s Swimmer
Bella Sims, Florida
Women’s Diver
Sophie Verzyl, South Carolina
Women’s Freshman
Anita Bottazzo, Florida
Up Next
The Gators return to action on Friday, Jan. 17 when they travel to College Station, Texas to face Texas A&M. Florida’s second SEC dual meet of the season will begin at 11:00 a.m. and can be followed on the meet mobile app.
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