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Cedric Buessing Becomes First NCAA Division II Swimmer To Make Olympic Final

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

SwimSwam’s research indicates that Cedric Buessing is the first Division II athlete ever to make an Olympic swimming final, or at least the first active Division II athlete.

There were only 2 heats of the men’s 400m IM which meant the field was cut in half by the time this morning’s heats concluded.

While Olympic medalists from Tokyo Chase Kalisz of the United States and Brendon Smith of Australia missed the cut, 20-year-old Cedric Buessing of Germany made the most of his opportunity.

Buessing tied Italy’s Alberto Razzetti and New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt with a morning mark of 4:11.52 to grab a spot in the final.

What makes Buessing’s appearance in tonight’s main event especially unique is the fact that he is an NCAA Division II swimmer. He competes for the University of Indianapolis (UIndy) where he is a 17-time NCAA All-American, 6-time national runner-up, two-time national champion in the 1000 free and owns program records across 7 events. He

Buessing is a rising senior at UIndy, meaning he has one season of collegiate eligibility remaining.

Benjamin Michaelson attended Southern Connecticut State University (DII) and nearly made the 2004 Olympic team, placing 3rd behind Ian Crocker and Michael Phelps at the U.S. Trials.

Buessing’s countryman Marius Kusch raced for DII school Queens University and competed at the 2020 Olympic Games but finished 23rd in the men’s 100m butterfly.

American Andrew Wilson, a Division III swimmer who competed for Emory, made the U.S. Olympic team in 2020 to become the first swimmer ever from that division to make the squad. He placed 6th in the 100m breast in Tokyo.

  1. Leon Marchand (France) – 4:08.30
  2. Max Litchfield (Great Britain) – 4:09.51
  3. Daiya Seto (Japan) – 4:10.92
  4. Carson Foster (USA) – 4:11.07
  5. Tomoyuki Matsushita (Japan) – 4:11.18
  6. Alberto Razzetti (Italy)/Lewis Clareburt (New Zealand)/Cedric Buessing (Germany) – 4:11.52 (TIE)

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HoundPound
3 months ago

*6-time national runner-up, but also 2-time national champ in the 1,000.

UIndy is proud, Cedric! GO HOUNDS!

Jack Pennuto
3 months ago

Marcin Malinski placed 7th in 1996 in the 400 IM for Poland and then swam for Drury right after they moved from NAIA to Division 2.

Dan
Reply to  Jack Pennuto
3 months ago

Do you know where he is today, is he back in Poland or in the US?

Bubba
3 months ago

We’re gonna be seeing a lot more of this with the NCAA’s new rules.

swimster
3 months ago
He Gets It Done Again
3 months ago

I think Doug Russell from UT-Arlington was a NCAA DII champ in 1968 (it might have been called something different back then, like the small college division or something) AND he was the Olympic gold medalist that year in the 100 fly, beating Mark Spitz.

MarkB
Reply to  Braden Keith
3 months ago

Dick Blick swam at North Central College (now DIII) and won a Gold Medal in the 800 Free Relay in 1960 with the fastest split in the field by 2 seconds. Would have possibly won the 200 Free but there wasn’t one contested for some reason.

PFA
3 months ago

Ever since he went 4:12 earlier this year I’ve been saying he had a great shot at making the final and this is huge! The last 2 Olympic Games have been putting non D1 schools on the map especially with the upcoming future being somewhat unknown for some D1 programs what a swim.

swimster
3 months ago

University of Indianapolis.

swimster
Reply to  swimster
3 months ago

thanks for the fix. Go Hounds!

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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