Per a press release from Indiana Swimming and Diving sent out on Wednesday afternoon, Brendan Burns will be using his fifth year of eligibility at Indiana to compete during the 2023-24 NCAA season. The fifth year of eligibility was given to all winter sport athletes who participated in the 2020-21 NCAA season that was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Nowhere else I’d rather be,” Burns said to SwimSwam regarding his decision.
Burns is a 2x NCAA champion, having won the 200 fly national title in 2022 and the 100 back title in 2023. At the 2023 NCAA championships, he placed first in the 100 back (43.61), second in the 200 fly (1:38.97), and ninth in the 100 fly (44.60) to score 46 individual points for Indiana, making him his team’s highest scorer. His points accounted for 33% of Indiana’s 139 individual swimming points.
In addition, Burns also swam on the Hoosier’s 5th place 200 medley relay (20.60 50 back), 2nd place 400 medley relay (43.82 100 back), and 5th place 800 free relay (1:31.78 split).
Burns’ Best Times:
- 200 free: 1:33.04 (1:31.78 split)
- 100 back: 43.61
- 200 back: 1:38.22
- 100 fly: 44.54
- 200 fly: 1:38.71
At NCAAs this year, Indiana finished fourth overall with 379 points and was 5 points shy of Texas, who finished third. Even though the Hoosiers will be losing Andrew Capobianco and Van Mathias, who scored 37 and 35 points respectively, the return of Burns and the addition of Olympic champion Ahmed Hafnaoui should soften the blow.
Burns is the three-time defending Big Ten champion in the 200 back and the four-time defending champion in the 200 fly, having pulled off the 200 back/200 fly double at Big Tens three years in a row. He was named both the 2022 and 2023 Big Ten Men’s Swimmer of the Year for his performances.
No surprise, he seems like he bleeds IU.
Would love for his NCAA schedule to be both backstrokes and the 200 fly. Want to see what he could do in a fresh 100 back and also how he’d fare in that 200 back / 200 fly double.
Nice pick up for the Hoosiers. No one coming out of HS is that fast. Even if it’s just for one season.
wow that is a fast 200 fly. faster than his 100 fly even!
Given how stacked the 100 fly is, I wonder if he does the dirty 200 bk / fly double. Or, maybe he takes a page out of Van’s book and becomes a breaststroker?
Bruh imagine but I mean that guy’s built different
he did it at big tens so its not off the table–would have to imagine he wants to save the legs for the 200 fly at NCAAs though
Great to see IU in a more stable place where swimmers seem genuinely happy and thriving in the sport. As a fan of the team, it was rough a couple years ago with all the coach and swimmer turnover. It’s a good sign that so many of the swimmers are choosing to stay there for a 5th year.
Don’t get ahead of yourself
This place is more TOXIC than you know.
Toby Barnett could also make a 400 IM b final, especially with the way he’s been trending.
I like Indiana finishing 5th next year, but behind Florida and just ahead of the perpetually 4th place finishers NCS
Looks like we’ve got our Burns/Urlando 200 butterback rematch to look forward to next year
How about an update interview with Luca and see how his rehab is going, is he back in the water, and where is he swimming? 🤷♂️😏🙊
I think he was back in the water fairly quickly. I remember seeing a picture of him kicking with his arm tied to his side. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has ramped up to actually moving it by now, but it could be he isn’t doing any butterfly or paddle work or anything that could put added stress on it.
Edit: Realistically, there is no massive rush for him right now to compete. I think the focus should be training and strength for the ’24 Olympics. He shouldn’t lose any sleep if he misses out on ’23 WC’s.
Really want to see this guy in a Long Pool Trials final. Almost wish he’d forget about short course and focus on the big shows.
He’s cracked at underwaters not on the same level in the big pool.