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17-year-old Olivia Hine from Brisbane, Australia, has committed to swim and study at the University of Virginia as part of the class of 2030.
Hine made the announcement on Instagram, specifying that she would be arriving “next year,” referring to the 2026–2027 season:
Switching from a Somerville frog to a Virginia Cavalier!
Couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to swim and study at the University of Virginia next year. Thank you to everyone who has supported me, my family, friends, Tim and also to Todd and the Virginia coaches!! #gohoos🔶⚔️🔷
… might need a few more jackets.
Hine currently trains at Somerville House under coach Tim Lane and was recently named to Australia’s World Junior Championship team following standout performances at the Australian Age Championships in mid-April. Competing in the 17-year-old age group, she captured three individual medals—all in personal best times.
She opened the meet with a breakthrough swim in the 50 fly, winning gold in 26.56 and taking four-tenths off her previous best of 26.96. With the event recently added to the Olympic program for 2028, this performance puts her firmly on the radar as a future senior-level contender if her upward trajectory continues.
Hine followed that swim with a bronze medal in the 50 freestyle, clocking 26.22, just off her best time of 26.20. She closed her individual events with a silver in the 100 fly, breaking the one-minute barrier for the first time in her career with an outing of 59.93, bettering her previous mark of 1:00.07.
In addition to her individual success, Hine posted strong relay contributions, earning a medal of each color. She split 26.08 on the fly leg of the gold medal-winning mixed 4×50 medley, led off Somerville’s silver medal 4×50 free relay in 26.28, and closed out her meet with a 26.20 fly leg to help the 15–17 girls’ 4×50 medley secure bronze.
The 50 fly has consistently been Hine’s standout event through her age group progression. She ranks 3rd all-time in Australia for 15-year-old girls with her 26.97 from 2023—tying Mikaela Cornelissen’s time from 2014—and sits behind only Olympic gold medalist Yolane Kukla (26.22, 2010) and Gemma Cooney (26.91, 2015).
Hine’s 26.96 from last season ranked her 8th all-time among Australian 16-year-olds. Now, with her recent drop to 26.56, she climbed to 4th on the 17-year-old list—trailing only Danni Miatke’s age record of 26.11, and Olympic champions Olivia Wunsch (26.34) and Emily Seebohm (26.40).
Top LCM Times (converted to SCY):
- 50 Butterfly: 26.56 (23.29)
- 100 Butterfly: 59.93 (52.72)
- 50 Freestyle: 26.20 (22.88)
- 100 Freestyle: 57.06 (49.96)
Hine’s primary events make her the kind of swimmer that could thrive in an NCAA Championship format, and while there will be an adjustment period to yards, her success in the long course pool should translate to a huge point haul at the NCAA Championships.
Her addition comes at a critical time, with Virginia looking to maintain dominance after securing its fifth consecutive NCAA team title. That victory was led by senior Gretchen Walsh, who swept the 50 free, 100 fly, and 100 free—setting new NCAA records in the 100 fly and 100 free, and tying her own record in the 50 free.
Hine helps address a looming gap in the sprint free group, as both Walsh and Maxine Parker—key legs on UVA’s NCAA-winning 200 free relay—are graduating.
This offseason, Virginia bolstered its depth with the additions of Italian standout Sara Curtis and Division II 50 free champion Bryn Greenwaldt, who will join the team next fall—one year before Hine arrives. Curtis holds long course bests of 24.43 and 53.01 in the 50 and 100 free, while Greenwaldt became the first Division II swimmer to break 22 seconds in the 50 free.
Though Hine is a valuable relay asset in both of her primary strokes, her greatest individual impact will likely come in the 100 fly—especially with sub-50 flyer Claire Curzan shifting her focus to freestyle and backstroke.
Hine will arrive a year after reigning World Junior champion Lana Pudar, who excels in the 100 and 200 fly and joins the Cavaliers next fall alongside Curtis and Greenwaldt. Hine’s 50/100 butterfly range complements Pudar’s strengths, and the two will likely push each other in training, helping elevate UVA’s fly group in the post-Walsh era and amid Curzan’s evolving event focus.
South African Jessica Thompson, arriving in 2026, could also be a member of that fly group. She boasts long course bests of 26.41 in the 50 fly and 1:01.77 in the 100 fly. However, her backstroke strengths—28.29 in the 50 back and 1:01.68 in the 100 back—are likely to be her primary focus.
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Wahoowa! Todd mastered domestic recruiting so it’s only natural he’d start mastering international recruiting, too!
Seems like a pretty good opportunity to get great experience swimming for a US Olympic coach who’s produced Olympic medal swimmers when the Olympics are going to be in her hometown of Brisbane in 2032.
Perhaps swimming with and learning from the world-record holder in one of her events might be attractive, too, assuming Walsh will still be around as she trains for LA 2028.
Maybe Olivia sees some things that are a good fit for her ambitions.
Already an Alex Walsh look-a-like too!
Only if you’ve had a couple of stiff drinks beforehand.
Very unexpected. Never thought UVA would train an Aussie, especially Aussie female.
Will be interesting to see where this goes
I guess probably surprised because Australian swimmers is going to UVA but overall not really surprised because they do have swimmers from all around the world going to UVA like Jasmine Nocentini from Italy and Aimee Canny from South Africa and also upcoming Lana Pudar from Bosnia this fall.
It’s gotten to the point where I hate to see people committed to UVA.
Dynasties are cool but it would be nice to see some actual competition for the team title.
Honestly speed matters obviously but the sheer number of high level commits we’re getting is enough to give us even more of an edge at any dual plus ACCs and NCAAs.
wow Virginia has lowered their standards
what?
tell me a college that would not be interested in a high school junior with PBs 100 LC Fly 59.9
and 50 LC Fly 26.6, and a world juniors champs qualifier.
at UVA she may be an NCAA finalist in a few years!
Their recruiting boiler room pressure tactics are starting to fail with American kids and their parents so they have to scrounge abroad for kids who don’t know better. 🤭
This is hardly “a scrounge” wake up to yourself and be happy for other people’s achievements.
Yes, Sarah Curtis and Lana Pudar “don’t know any better.”
What they know is that Virginia has the best collection of world-class U.S. women’s swimmers right now — and it’s not close.
Sara’s gotten blowback back in Italy for her decision. So much so her coach Thomas Maggiora will be keeping very close tabs on her.
She’s already stated if she doesn’t like it she will leave. Sara is a big star and there won’t be a grace period given to Todd like Grimes and Curzan have so generously gifted him.
Not doubting you, but where’d you see this? Also, there was a comment you left a few days ago, Todd talking about the guy’s team. Where are you seeing this stuff?
She shared it in an interview with Italian media.
As for their men’s team, Todd revealed that he’s lost track of some of his male 5th years in a puff piece by the UVA athletic department.
Gotcha, thanks. I was looking for the stuff on the men’s team.
“fake news”
He’s making it up, per usual.
She’s getting no flak for her decision.
I know we’ve tussled a bit but I do ask that you respect that I go by she/her pronouns. ♥️
As for “making it up” — I’m okay with you flinging invectives at me but please be a sister and don’t say that about Arianna Galati and Jeff White. They’re quite reputable folks (even if the latter is a Cavalier). 🫶
Based on the authors you’ve cited, I assume you are referencing these two articles:
https://www.elle.com/it/magazine/interviste/a64684303/sara-curtis-intervista/
https://virginiasports.com/news/2025/05/21/new-chapters-starting-for-uva-swimming/
I’m just not sure they support your claims.
As for Lana Pudar, sorry to say but I suspect she’ll have a similar trajectory as Bailey Hartman. 😔
Fact Check
Bailey Hartman this freshman UVA year, swam PBs in 100fly and 200fly at NCAAs
Her previous PBs dated back 2 and 3 years!
Lana Pudar’s PBs also date back 2 years so, a “similar trajectory” to Hartman will be
a successful season for her at UVA!
I doubt it would be “unfortunate” for Lana Pudar to go best times in the 100 and 200 fly as Hartman did at UVA.
Most trolls I know would not associate with you. If you had an ounce of decency, you would stop posting on this and every other website and show some common courtesy to young people who are swimming for the joy of it and living their best lives.
I deeply apologize for upsetting you by having a conflicting opinion. 🫶
Would you consider it a common courtesy to apply high pressure boiler room tactics on impressionable young people?
It appears they are following similar tactics to Looze at IU: Take anyone willing to come and see who makes it.
your comparison of UVA to IU is ridiculous!
and your “take anyone” comment….
only two young women in the class of 2026 have faster 50/100 LC Fly times than Olivia!
I just spit out my coffee.
seems a little dramatic but to each his own