LONDON – Indiana University rising senior swimmer Anze Tavcar qualified for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics on Thursday at the European Championships on Thursday nigh in London.
Tavcar will represent Slovenia in the 100 freestyle after posting a FINA A cut in the semifinals of the 100 freestyle at the European Championships. The rising senior became the first Indiana swimmer to break the 49-seconds barrier in program history, touching the wall in a time of 48.88.
“The Hoosier swimming nation is so very proud of Anze,” Indiana head swimming coach Ray Looze remarked. “When he came to Indiana, it was his dream to become an Olympian and today that journey was realized. Additionally, Anze was just chosen as a captain for next year’s Hoosier team. All in all, a pretty awesome week for Anze and his family.”
Tavcar is the fourth IU swimmer to qualify for this summer’s Olympics, joining Kennedy Goss (Canada), Ali Khalafalla (Egypt) and incoming-transfer Marwan Elkamash (Egypt).
By qualifying for this summer’s Olympic Game in Rio, Tavcar becomes the 74th (104th time) Olympian for the Indiana swimming and diving program.
At Indiana, Tavcar has earned six All-America accolades, including three at this year’s NCAA Championships. Tavcar was named First-Team All-Big Ten this season after earning second-team honors as a sophomore.
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Swimming news courtesy of Indiana Swimming & Diving.