Crooks Makes History En Route to Qualifying for 50 Free Final

PARIS – Tennessee's Jordan Crooks set a Cayman Islands National Record and became the first swimmer ever from the country to qualify for an Olympic final on day six of the Paris Games.

Crooks was one of four Vols and Lady Vols to compete Thursday morning. During the 50 free prelims, he recorded a personal-best effort of 21.51 to break the Cayman Islands National Record and become just the second swimmer ever from the country to advance to an Olympic semifinal.

Crooks continued to make history in the afternoon, when he clocked a 21.54 mark to secure his spot in Friday's final. He's the first swimmer from the Cayman Islands to make a final, and with the No. 4 seed, he will be in contention to become the country's first-ever Olympic medalist, regardless of sport. That race will open Friday's finals session at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Also swimming in the 50 free, Gui Caribe concluded his time in Paris by placing 33rd in a field of 73 with a time of 22.31. Earlier in the week, he posted a 10th-place finish in the 100 free, an event he earned silver in at the NCAA Championships in March.

Making her second appearance in Paris, Julia Mrozinski helped the German 4x200 free relay team place 10th in prelims, touching the wall in 7:55.57. Regan Rathwell made her Olympic debut for Canada, swimming the 200 back. She finished 22nd overall thanks to a time of 2:12.21.

Two swimmers will compete in prelims Friday morning. Kayky Mota of Brazil will make his Olympic debut in the 100 fly, while Ireland's Ellen Walshe will swim in her third individual event of the meet with the 200 IM.

Olympic Swimming Schedule
Friday, August 2
5:00 a.m. – Men's 100 Butterfly Prelims (Mota)
5:17 a.m. – Women's 200 IM Prelims (Walshe)
2:30 p.m. – Men's 50 Freestyle Final (Crooks)
3:00 p.m. – Men's 100 Butterfly Semifinals (Mota)
3:22 p.m. – Women's 200 IM Semifinals (Walshe)

Saturday, August 3
6:52 a.m. – Women's 4x100 Medley Relay Prelims (McSharry, Toussaint)
2:30 p.m. – Men's 100 Butterfly Final (Mota)
3:01 p.m. – Women's 200 IM Final (Walshe)

Sunday, August 4
1:26 p.m. - Women's 4x100 Medley Relay Finals (McSharry, Toussaint)

University of Tennessee Athletics

Crooks Makes History En Route to Qualifying for 50 Free Final

Players Mentioned

Gui Caribe

Jordan Crooks

Julia Mrozinski

Regan Rathwell

Ellen Walshe

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