UF will be well-represented at this year’s U.S. Open Championships, which begin on July 30.
Eight Gators swimmers posted qualifying times at the Southern Zone South Sectional Regional or at previous qualifying competitions.
Among the eight Gators heading to Irvine, Calif., for the U.S. Open are four All-Americans, who combined for 13 All-American honors during the 2012-13 season.
Headlining the group is two-time South African Olympian and 10-time All-American junior Sebastien Rousseau.
He qualified for the 200-meter freestyle (1:48.69), 100-meter butterfly (54.17), 200-meter individual medley (1:59.55), 200-meter backstroke (2:02.77) and 100-meter backstroke (57.34).
Rousseau will be accompanied by sophomore Matthew Curby, junior Brad deBorde, freshman Arthur Frayler, freshman Ryan Rosenbaum and sophomore Billy Silva from the men’s team. Freshman Lindsey McKnight and sophomore Jordan Smith will represent the women’s team.
Curby, a four-time All-American, made the cut for the 200 free (1:53.86), 100 fly (55.74), 100 back (56.83) and 200 IM (2:04.10). Silva will be swimming the same three events he did at the 2012 USA Olympic Team Trials, the 400 IM (4:25.67), 400-meter freestyle (3:59.02) and 1,500-meter freestyle (15:46.70).
DeBorde, UF’s 50-meter freestyle record holder and 14-time All-American, qualified for the 100-meter freestyle (49.94) and 50 free (22.76), and Smith’s time of 4:54.68 at Sectionals earned her a spot in the 400 IM.
Three Gators freshmen are headed to the U.S. Open. Although McKnight is an All-American who qualified for 200 free (2:02.58) and 200 IM (2:17.53), and Frayler who made cut times for the 1500 free (15:04.69), 800 free (8:02.01) and 400 free (3:53.69) has competed at Olympic Team Trials and Rosenbaum is coming off a career-best swim in the 400 free (4:01.81), the US Open Championships will likely be the biggest stage they’ve competed on.
