University of Tennessee Athletics
Crooks Defends 50 Free Short Course World Title, Caribe Wins Second Silver of Meet
December 15, 2024 | Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving, Men's Swimming & Diving
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Tennessee swimming ended the 2024 Short Course World Championships by making waves in the 50 free, as Jordan Crooks and Gui Caribe won gold and silver to cap the meet.
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After winning the 2022 edition in Melbourne, Australia, Crooks defended his title with a 20.19 effort in the finals to claim his second World Champion title. He was the top seed in the race after breaking the world record in the event during both prelims (20.08) and semifinals (19.90) on Saturday.
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Crooks joins Tripp Schwenk as the only Vols to ever to win multiple short course titles. Schwenk was the 1993 World Champion in the 100 back and 200 back as well as the 400 medley relay for Team USA.
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For Caribe, he closed out strong to move into second place in the final moments of the race, clocking a time of 20.57. It was his second silver medal of the meet after also placing on the podium in the 100 free, where he was joined by Crooks who took the bronze.
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This was the perfect ending to the fall slate for Crooks and Caribe. The duo heads into the second half of the season as the top sprint duo in the NCAA. Crooks is the national leader in four different events (50, 100 & 200 frees, 100 fly), while Caribe holds the second-fastest time in the 100 free and is third in the 50 free.
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Also swimming on the final day, former Vol Michael Houlie of South Africa took seventh in the 50 breast, touching the wall in 25.73. Lady Vol signee Mizuki Hirai helped the Japanese 400 medley relay to a seventh-place finish with a time of 3:51.13.
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In addition to the four medals won by Tennessee swimmers, the Vols and Lady Vols combined to break 12 national records throughout the week.
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After winning the 2022 edition in Melbourne, Australia, Crooks defended his title with a 20.19 effort in the finals to claim his second World Champion title. He was the top seed in the race after breaking the world record in the event during both prelims (20.08) and semifinals (19.90) on Saturday.
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Crooks joins Tripp Schwenk as the only Vols to ever to win multiple short course titles. Schwenk was the 1993 World Champion in the 100 back and 200 back as well as the 400 medley relay for Team USA.
Â
For Caribe, he closed out strong to move into second place in the final moments of the race, clocking a time of 20.57. It was his second silver medal of the meet after also placing on the podium in the 100 free, where he was joined by Crooks who took the bronze.
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This was the perfect ending to the fall slate for Crooks and Caribe. The duo heads into the second half of the season as the top sprint duo in the NCAA. Crooks is the national leader in four different events (50, 100 & 200 frees, 100 fly), while Caribe holds the second-fastest time in the 100 free and is third in the 50 free.
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Also swimming on the final day, former Vol Michael Houlie of South Africa took seventh in the 50 breast, touching the wall in 25.73. Lady Vol signee Mizuki Hirai helped the Japanese 400 medley relay to a seventh-place finish with a time of 3:51.13.
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In addition to the four medals won by Tennessee swimmers, the Vols and Lady Vols combined to break 12 national records throughout the week.
Players Mentioned
Free/Fly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Sprint Free
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