Minnesota Signs Austrian World Championhip Qualifier Jakub Maly for 2013-2014

As compared to his women’s team, the internationals on the men’s roster of Minnesota head coach Kelly Kremer hail not from North America. All three of his women’s internationals come from Canada, as compared to just one of his three men’s internationals.

To fill out his men’s lineup, Kremer instead turns largely to Europe, and that’s where he’s gone again this spring as he’s signed 21-year old Austrian international Jakub Maly to join the Gophers’ roster in the 2013-2014 season (Maly just turned 21 earlier this month.)

“Jakub is an elite athlete that already brings International and World class swimming with him to Minnesota,” Kremer said. “We could not be more pleased that he has decided to become a Golden Gopher. Steve Miller, our men’s recruiting coordinator, did a great job of showing Minnesota to Jakub, and ultimately we were the right fit for him and he is the right fit for our team.”

Maly will swim the 400 IM in Barcelona after a 4:20.61 won the Austrian National title in the event in early March (which converts to a 3:49 in yards.) He also has bests of 2:02.61 in the 200 long course IM (1:47.5 converted), a 1:04.0 in the 100 breaststroke (55.8 in yards), and a 2:16.3 in the 200 breaststroke (1:59.2 in yards). His short course meters results have been equally as good; he was 11th in the 400 IM at the Short Course World Championships in December.

A spot has opened up in the Austrian international ranks in these IM’s after the retirement of the great Markus Rogan.

Minnesota has also added Bryce Boston to their class; he was the 2012 Minnesota high school state champion in the 100 fly, where he topped out during his senior year at a 49.86. He has long course Junior National cuts in both that 100 fly (56.5) and the 50 free (24.1), and in addition to joining Minnesota’s butterfly group could be another key piece to rebuilding the depth of their depleted sprint program.

The crowned jewel of the incoming freshman class remains Coloradoan Daryl Turner, who has yards bests of 20.49 in the 50 and 44.19 in the 100 freestyle; as well as a 47.8 in the 100 back and a 48.4 in the 100 fly.

Jakub Maly  received national and international news attention when he was nearly crushed to death on a Florida beach trip last year. It was a tragic accident from which he has clearly recovered.  He is not an Olympian, despite the news report above’s declaration.