Olympic Trials Finalist Danielle Valley “Will Not Be on Florida’s Roster This Coming Year”

2012 Olympic Trials finalist Danielle Valley is looking for a new program to transfer to, according to a University of Florida spokesperson.

While the statement would not confirm if a full release was given, meaning that Valley would be immediately eligible to compete in the fall of 2014 after her transfer, it did say that “Danielle will not be on our roster this coming school year” and that “she has been granted permission to talk with other schools.”

Valley first made her mark nationally when she was the biggest surprise finalist in the women’s 800 free at the 2012 Olympic Trials, having swum an 8:36.59. She has since improved that time to an 8:33.94, done at the 2013 U.S. Nationals.

In terms of times, Valley had a very good freshman year in The Swamp, swimming lifetime bests in both the 500 free (4:39.00) and the 1650 free (15:53.94) at the SEC Championships. That time in the mile put her 4th in the conference and was an NCAA Automatic Qualifying mark.

Her NCAA Championship meet didn’t go quite as well, as she added big time in both of those events and the 400 IM to finish out of the scoring, but wherever she transfers to is getting a swimmer who has bona-fied All-American times.

Florida head coach Gregg Troy had no comment on the matter.

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Harry Badger
9 years ago

She’s heading north. Good for Big Ten, Great for Wisconsin!!!

mikeh
9 years ago

Does UF lose more swimmers than other top line programs?

MarkB
9 years ago

Next stop – Arizona.

GeoffD
Reply to  MarkB
9 years ago

Of course, all the UF dropouts go to Arizona!

MarkB
Reply to  GeoffD
9 years ago

Her club coach is the new asst. at Arizona.

9 years ago

i knew when her name wasn’t on the press release i’d be seeing something. however i’m not really a huge follower of UF other than one or 2 swimmers, just happened to see that name absent. thought she wasn’t competing for some reason. then i saw her. then this.

interesting

MarkB
9 years ago

Let the comments begin…

bobo gigi
Reply to  MarkB
9 years ago

Oh no! 😆
Please, not the Gregg Troy/Gators debate again! :mrgreen:

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Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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