Vol Trio Punches Ticket to Paris Olympics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Three more Tennessee swimmers earned their spot on national team rosters last week, as the qualification period for the 2024 Paris Olympics came to a close.

Lyubomir Epitropov (Bulgaria) and Joaquin Vargas (Peru) each booked their second trip to the Summer Games after also representing their respective nations in Tokyo, while incoming transfer Lamar Taylor will compete on behalf of the Bahamas during his first Olympics. In total, Tennessee boasts a program-record 15 Olympic qualifiers for the upcoming games. A combined 11 different nations will be represented by the Vols and Lady Vols in Paris.

A three-time All-American and SEC Champion, Epitropov punched his ticket to a second Olympics last Thursday, when he broke his own national record in the 200-meter breast during a gold medal-winning performance at the 2024 European Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. His time of 2:09.45 edged out his previous best time of 2:09.68, which stood as the Olympic qualification mark for the event. During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Epitropov finished 15th overall in the 200 breast.

A rising senior for the Vols, Vargas claimed his spot on the Peruvian national team as part of a point-scoring system by World Aquatics. He will compete in the 400-meter freestyle after finishing first in the event during the Colombian National Championships earlier this month with a time of 3:54.59. His fastest swim in the event during the qualification period came with a strong showing at the Atlanta Classic in May, where he placed fourth overall behind a 3:53.35 effort. During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Vargas placed 24th in the 400 free and 35th in the 200 free—events he holds the Peruvian national record in.

Taylor, who just recently arrived on campus ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, will compete in the 100-meter freestyle for the Bahamian national team. A six-time NCAA Division II National Champion, Taylor joined the Vols after a successful career at Henderson State, where he won individual national titles in the 50 free, 100 free (twice) and 100 back.

In addition to these Vols, two of UT's pro group swimmers earned their spot on national team rosters with McKenna DeBever (Peru) and Kristen Romano (Puerto Rico). DeBever will swim the 100-meter backstroke and the 200 IM, while Romano also compete in the 200 IM. Both individuals train with UT's staff and swim as members of Tennessee Aquatics.

Swimming officially begins on Saturday, July 27, at 5 a.m. Here's a full list of Tennessee's Olympians and the events they qualified in:

Gui Caribe (Brazil) – 50 Free, 100 Free
Erika Connolly (USA) – 4x100 Free Relay
Jordan Crooks (Cayman Islands) – 50 Free, 100 Free
Brooklyn Douthwright (Canada) – 4x100 Free Relay
Lyubomir Epitropov (Bulgaria) – 200 Breast
Martin Espernberger (Austria) – 200 Fly
Ella Jansen (Canada) – 400 IM
Mona McSharry (Ireland) – 100 Breast, 200 Breast
Kayky Mota (Brazil) – 100 Fly
Julia Mrozinski (Germany) – 200 Free
Regan Rathwell (Canada) – 200 Back
Lamar Taylor (Bahamas) – 100 Free
Kira Toussaint (Netherlands) – 100 Back, 200 Back
Joaquin Vargas (Peru) – 400 Free
Ellen Walshe (Ireland) – 200 IM, 400 IM

University of Tennessee Athletics

Players Mentioned

Gui Caribe

Jordan Crooks

Brooklyn Douthwright

Lyubomir Epitropov

Martin Espernberger

Mona McSharry

Julia Mrozinski

Regan Rathwell

Joaquin Vargas

Ellen Walshe

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