World Juniors Finalist Maria Ramos Najji to Swim for Ohio State (2024)

Spain’s Maria Ramos Najji, a finalist at the 2022 World Juniors Championships, is headed to The Ohio State University this fall, where she will compete for the Buckeyes beginning in the 2024-2025 season.

“I am excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at The Ohio State University,” Ramos said. “I am so grateful to my family, friends and my coach for supporting me in my day to day. I can’t wait to be a part of this team. Go Buckeyes!!”

Ramos made a splash at the FINA World Junior Championships back in 2022 when she turned in a runner-up finish in the 50-meter breaststroke with a time of 31.68. She also turned in a 7th-place finish in the 100-meter breast with a time of 1:11.76, narrowly off of the personal best that she had set earlier that meet.

A breaststroke specialist, Ramos has only improved her times since then and continued to excel in these events at the national level. Her performance at the 2023 Spanish Open saw her win the 50 breast in a new personal best time of 31.33 and place 6th in the 200 breast with a then-best time of 1:10.22.

Ramos has also become a fixture on the international stage at the junior level. She qualified for the semifinals at the 2023 World Junior Championships, placing 15th in the 50 breast (31.95), and finaled in the same event at the European Aquatic Junior Championships in June, finishing 8th in a time of 31.89.

Best LCM Times (SCY Conversion)

• 50 breast – 31.33 (27.32)
• 100 breast – 1:10.04 (1:01.29)
• 200 breast – 2:33.81 (2:16.76)
• 200 IM – 2:28.28 (2:10.70)

A Division I program, the Buckeyes compete in the Big 10 Conference, where the women’s team placed 2nd at the 2024 championship. Ramos’ converted times would have landed her in the ‘B’ final in the 100 breast, while she would have been just outside of the cutoff for the ‘C’ final in the 200 breast.

Other members of Ohio State’s class of 2028 who will be joining Ramos this fall include Emma Finlin, Susie Lee, Delia Lloyd, Erin Little, Danika Varda, Elise Nardozzi, Nell Cagle, Sienna Angove, Mila Nikanorov and Rachel Bockrath.