In an interview with the miSHEgan podcast, Tokyo Olympian and World Champion Bella Sims joined her teammates Stephanie Balduccini and Kiarra Milligan to detail her time at Gainesville and her decision to make the move to Ann Arbor and join the Michigan Wolverines in the Big Ten.
Sims announced her transfer to the University of Michigan in May of 2025 with two years of eligibility remaining. She won NCAA championship titles in both the 200 freestyle (1:40.90) and the 500 free (4:32.47) at the 2024 NCAA Swimming and Diving championships. She added two runner-up finishes in 2025 in both the 100 backstroke (49.12) and 200 back (1:47.11) at NCAAs.
The full podcast can be listened to here:
“I loved it there; it was an awesome experience.” Sims said when talking about her time as a Gator at Florida, “It was just not what I wanted… the energy that you’re surrounded by is just heavily contagious. When negativity surrounds you, you tend to be caught in that, and I just didn’t think that that was the kind of environment I wanted to be in.”
Sims has already shown her ability to produce in the Big Ten conference and across the national landscape for Michigan. Following midseason invites, Sims holds the fastest time in the 400 IM, the second fastest time in the 100 back (49.17), and 3rd in the 200 free (1:41.17).
“Gainesville food is so bad!” Sims later added in the podcast when asked what some of her favorite eating spots were since she arrived on campus. “There is nothing in Gainesville, so coming here has been a culture shock almost.”
The move brought new food, but also a new team for the Las Vegas native, one that she expressed joy in being a part of.
“This team has been such a delight to be around,” Sims said when asked about the team and heading into the second half of this NCAA season, “I have a lot of faith in this team”.
Sims touched on practicing with the team; she mentioned that the program puts “an emphasis on competing with each other and not against each other.”
“I’ve had a lot of people [in the past] that if I beat them in practice, they don’t talk to me,” she said, not specifically listing any of her previous teams, “I just think that it’s not that deep, swimming isn’t that serious, it should be more fun than that.”
Wow… she seems to be beating a dead horse. Tons of great athletes at Florida and none seem to be complaining. I say move on and shut up!
Seems like facts, but who has this coaching staff developed? Only the pro’s seem to be doing well, I guess you can figure out where the coaches spend their time.
They’ve done some development. I’m trying to think of any “average to superstar” developments, but like Olivia Peoples was a 53.4 in the 100 fly out of HS and ended at 50.4. That used to be a good time before Gretchen lol.
There are probably a few more examples on the men’s side. Julian Smith jumps out at me.
Glad to see my fellow teammates crapping on their former teammate as Nesty asked us to in the team meeting we had. All love to Bella we miss her <3
She bashed KG at sandpipers and now Ivey at Florida..She needs to get a life and just “have fun swimming and eating great food with her boyfriend” pretty soon she will be bashing the Michigan girls….constant cycle for her… As TS says “It’s me, I’m the problem its me…..”
There is a ton of speculation in there lol she said NOTHING about Ivey. I feel like the 3 posts in a row here are all from you – basically the exact same posts from 3 different user names
Can you post the article on that? Never heard this before or it speculation?
From what I’ve heard, the negativity and toxicity is gone.
She always talks like a spoiled brat. Complained about sandpipers, then Florida and I’m sure she will start complaining about Michigan. Toxic people are all the same….
She also complains about being on the Olympic team, poor Bella with her supposed imposter syndrome. Maybe it wasn’t a syndrome.
Conjecture much?
From what I’ve heard, there’s a lot more to be considered, and it’s not the whole story. Wishing the best for Bella at UM
A lot of sensi gator fans in these comments lol
Good for Bella, just the absolute Best! This Is so amazing. I Can’t wait to see what lies a Head!