Swim & Dive Sends Three to World University Games
Jul 03 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Vera Koprivova, Federica Greco and Terka Grusova set to represent their countries and university on a global stage
NAPOLI, Italy (July 3, 2019) – Rutgers swimming and diving Class of 2019 graduate Vera Koprivova, rising senior Federica Greco and rising sophomore Terka Grusova will represent their native countries and the Scarlet Knights at the 30th World University Games from July 3-14 in Napoli, Italy.
Koprivova and Grusova will swim for the Czech Republic, while Greco will have home-pool advantage swimming on Team Italy. With three swimmers qualifying for the World University Games, Rutgers and head coach Jon Maccoll are sending the most athletes in school history.
"Sending our most student-athletes ever to the World University Games is a great testament to our commitment to train our Scarlet Knights to reach their international and Olympic goals," Maccoll said. "This is a global sport, and Rutgers is well-represented on the biggest stage."
The Summer Universiade is an international university sports and cultural event that is staged every two years in a different city. These games draw many thousands of student-athletes together to compete, making it one of the largest multi-sport events in the world.
Embracing the motto of 'Today's Stars, Tomorrow's Leaders,' the Summer Universiade incorporates educational and cultural aspects, encouraging student-athletes from around the world to combine high sports performance with their intellectual pursuits.
Rutgers' World University Games tradition reached new heights in 2007, when Kelly Harrigan won a gold medal in the 200-meter backstroke while representing the United States. Koprivova is making her second consecutive trip to the Summer Universiade. In 2017, the Czech Republic native finished 13th in the 200-meter backstroke to highlight her week.
The school record holder in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke events, Koprivova also became Rutgers' first Big Ten medalist in a swimming event - and shortly after, the first two-time medalist - by winning bronze in both backstroke events at the Big Ten Championships in February. With her school-record time of 1:52.42 in the 200 at the Rutgers Invitational in November, Koprivova booked a second career trip to the NCAA Championships, where she placed 17th in the nation in the event and missed All-America honorable mention status by just one-hundredth of a second.
Greco posted the program's second fastest time in history in both the 200-yard butterfly and 200-yard individual medley this season, and added the third fastest time in the 100-yard butterfly event. She posted a pair of NCAA B standards in the butterfly events, while winning seven events for the Scarlet Knights during the 2018-19 season.
Grusova qualified for the NCAA Championships during her rookie year, racing in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke events. She scored a podium finish (7th) in the 200 Back at the Big Ten Championships, and added a ninth place finish in the 100 Back by winning the consolation final in a lifetime best time that would have placed fourth in the championship final. The Czech Republic native won eight backstroke events as a freshman, set a Rutgers Aquatic Center record in the 100 Back, and claimed the 100-meter backstroke title at the 2018 Czech Republic National Championships.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers swimming & diving, follow the program on Twitter (@RUSwimDive) and on Instagram (ruswimdive). The team is also on Facebook (facebook.com/RUSwimDive). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
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Koprivova and Grusova will swim for the Czech Republic, while Greco will have home-pool advantage swimming on Team Italy. With three swimmers qualifying for the World University Games, Rutgers and head coach Jon Maccoll are sending the most athletes in school history.
"Sending our most student-athletes ever to the World University Games is a great testament to our commitment to train our Scarlet Knights to reach their international and Olympic goals," Maccoll said. "This is a global sport, and Rutgers is well-represented on the biggest stage."
The Summer Universiade is an international university sports and cultural event that is staged every two years in a different city. These games draw many thousands of student-athletes together to compete, making it one of the largest multi-sport events in the world.
Embracing the motto of 'Today's Stars, Tomorrow's Leaders,' the Summer Universiade incorporates educational and cultural aspects, encouraging student-athletes from around the world to combine high sports performance with their intellectual pursuits.
Rutgers' World University Games tradition reached new heights in 2007, when Kelly Harrigan won a gold medal in the 200-meter backstroke while representing the United States. Koprivova is making her second consecutive trip to the Summer Universiade. In 2017, the Czech Republic native finished 13th in the 200-meter backstroke to highlight her week.
The school record holder in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke events, Koprivova also became Rutgers' first Big Ten medalist in a swimming event - and shortly after, the first two-time medalist - by winning bronze in both backstroke events at the Big Ten Championships in February. With her school-record time of 1:52.42 in the 200 at the Rutgers Invitational in November, Koprivova booked a second career trip to the NCAA Championships, where she placed 17th in the nation in the event and missed All-America honorable mention status by just one-hundredth of a second.
Greco posted the program's second fastest time in history in both the 200-yard butterfly and 200-yard individual medley this season, and added the third fastest time in the 100-yard butterfly event. She posted a pair of NCAA B standards in the butterfly events, while winning seven events for the Scarlet Knights during the 2018-19 season.
Grusova qualified for the NCAA Championships during her rookie year, racing in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke events. She scored a podium finish (7th) in the 200 Back at the Big Ten Championships, and added a ninth place finish in the 100 Back by winning the consolation final in a lifetime best time that would have placed fourth in the championship final. The Czech Republic native won eight backstroke events as a freshman, set a Rutgers Aquatic Center record in the 100 Back, and claimed the 100-meter backstroke title at the 2018 Czech Republic National Championships.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers swimming & diving, follow the program on Twitter (@RUSwimDive) and on Instagram (ruswimdive). The team is also on Facebook (facebook.com/RUSwimDive). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
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Players Mentioned
Fly/I.M.
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Back
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Back/Free
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