Vol Swimming Signs Olympian Joaquin Vargas

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Olympian Joaquin Vargas signed with Tennessee men's swimming and will join the program ahead of the spring semester as a mid-year enrollee, director of swimming and diving Matt Kredich announced Thursday.

Vargas represented Peru during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, competing in the 200- and 400-meter freestyles. He posted a time of 1:49.93 in the 200 followed by a mark of 3:52.94 in the 400.

This past weekend, Vargas earned podium finishes in the 200 free (1st/1:45.68), 400 free (1st/3:43.32) and 100 back (2nd/53.72), setting the Peruvian National Record in all three short-course events, during the Puerto Rico International Swim. He also owns the long-course national records in the 200 free, 400 free, 800 free and 100 back. His most recent SCM times converted to SCY for 200 free (1:35.20) and 500 free (4:15.22) are NCAA B Cut times.

Competing with Azura Florida Aquatics, Vargas won three gold medals at Pembroke Pines 18&U Winter Championships in 2020 and took 18th in the 200 free at the Toyota U.S. Open.

With Vargas joining the roster midyear, Tennessee will now boast six Olympians. He will swim alongside the men's breaststroke duo of Lyubomir Epitropov and Michael Houlie. He joins Lady Vol Ellen Walshe as the UT's freshmen Olympians. Mona McSharry and Tjasa Pintar are Tennessee's other Olympians on the active roster.

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University of Tennessee Athletics

Players Mentioned

Lyubomir Epitropov

Michael Houlie

Mona McSharry

Tjasa Pintar

Ellen Walshe

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