World Junior Record Holder, Olympic Finalist Mizuki Hirai Commits to Tennessee

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World Junior Record holder Mizuki Hirai has announced her commitment to Tennessee, she announced via Instagram. She will arrive in fall 2025.

“I am super excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of Tennessee!! I am incredibly thankful for the support of my family, coaches, and friends.
Go Vols! “

Hirai just finished representing Japan at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Hirai swam a 56.71 in the women’s 100 fly in prelims, the 2nd fastest time of the morning to earn a spot in semifinals. She then swam a 56.80 in semifinals for 7th and went on to finish 7th in finals touching in a 57.19.

In addition to her individual 100 fly, she also swam in the women’s 4×100 medley relay and the mixed 4×100 medley relay for Japan. The women’s relay finished 5th in finals and Hirai had her fastest split then with a 56.27.

Earlier this summer, Hirai set a World Junior Record in the girls 100 fly, swimming a 56.33 at the end of June. That broke the official record of a 56.43 that Claire Curzan of the US swam in 2021. Curzan was faster with a 56.20 in April 2021 although that time was never ratified.

Hirai’s best time LCM time converted to SCY:

  • 100 fly: 56.33 (49.48)

The Tennessee women finished 2nd at the 2024 SEC Championships and went on to a 4th place finish at NCAAs. The team was led by rising senior Josephine Fuller.

Hirai has the potential to make a huge impact based on her best converted time in the 100 fly. No swimmer was under the 50-second mark in the 100 fly at SECs. Hirai’s best converted time also would have been #2 at 2024 NCAAs, only behind Gretchen Walsh who swam an NCAA record of a 47.42.

Hirai will arrive next fall as a member of the class of 2029 along with Lilly Robertson, Nicole Zettel, Avery Luedke, Mere Whelehan, Amelia Mason, and Alyssa Claborn. Hirai is notably the first international recruit of the class.

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kazoo
56 minutes ago

Great get for the Vols. Kredich has already earned that whopping $10K raise he received–ha, ha–from
the penny-pinching (when it comes to Olympic sports, apparently, athletic director.

Swammer
1 hour ago

Let’s go vols! Millie Leonard is also joining the lady vols in 2024, from Dublin Ohio OHSAA 2x state champ 200/500 free

Swammer
Reply to  Swammer
1 hour ago

2025 I mean

VFL
2 hours ago

Holy smokes! Huge! Crooks-Hirai-Siroky is one helluva start to a medley relay.

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
Reply to  VFL
1 hour ago

Camille Spink isn’t no slouch either on the freestyle!

Willswim
2 hours ago

Kinda feel like Cal can no longer claim to have the #1, #2, and #3 recruits from the class of 2025.

Freddie
Reply to  Willswim
2 hours ago

Kinda feels unlikely that all 3 of them will end up there fall of ‘25

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
Reply to  Freddie
1 hour ago

I am really curious to see how Aaron Shackell’s decision to go Texas will impact Alex.

bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
1 hour ago

and Andrew 0-0

Caleb
Reply to  Freddie
1 hour ago

They all look like college material to me… if they were ambivalent like Grimes they wouldn’t have announced. None of them are good enough to go pro right now, especially in the 1st year of the quad. I mean, only a literal world-record holder even considers going pro, unless they aren’t crazy about going to college in the first place for whatever reason.

jeff
Reply to  Caleb
58 minutes ago

he means some of them will flip schools, Alex probably the most likely given her brother has left Cal

2Fat4Speed
3 hours ago

Not a ton of Japanese Olympians that have swum NCAA. Also, not often someone is an Olympic finalist before ever showing up on campus!

Vaswammer
Reply to  2Fat4Speed
2 hours ago

Huske, Weyant, and Smith all from 2021.

Guy
Reply to  Vaswammer
1 hour ago

Krzysztof Chmielewski

swimgeek
3 hours ago

Wow – huge pickup for Vols. What else does she swim – what will her other events be?

Last edited 3 hours ago by swimgeek
Dee
Reply to  swimgeek
3 hours ago

Good freestyle (54.8 100fr) and backstroke (28.5/1.01)

VFL
Reply to  Dee
2 hours ago

Where do you see her other times?

Fast and Furious
Reply to  VFL
2 hours ago

SwimCloud obviously

VFL
Reply to  Fast and Furious
2 hours ago

Swincloud has her best 100 FR at 59.04 and 100 BK at 1:03

JasonHere
Reply to  VFL
30 minutes ago
Tencor
4 hours ago

That’s a huge get

Diehard
Reply to  Tencor
1 hour ago

Not many Japanese end up in USA for college

About Anya Pelshaw

Anya Pelshaw

Anya has been with SwimSwam since June 2021 as both a writer and social media coordinator. She was in attendance at the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. She also attended 2023 US Summer Nationals as well as the 2024 European Championships …

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