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Casper Puggaard from Kastrup, a suburb of Copenhagen, Denmark, has signed a contract to swim and study at the University of California, Berkeley, beginning next fall. He wrote on social media:
“I am thrilled to finally announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at University of California, Berkeley! The recruiting period has been a long, but amazing journey, and I cannot thank everybody, that has been a part of it enough… THANK YOU ALL! It is something I will never forget. A big thank you to my family and friends for their guidance to get me where I am today, and an even bigger thank you to my Mom for helping me, supporting me, and being there for me both in my high and lows. I could not have done it without you! A big thank you to all the coaches at Berkeley especially Coach Dave, for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the team at Cal, to become a bear🐻 Looking forward to be swimming with the amazing team Cal has to offer! GO BEARS 💛🐻💙”
Puggaard set a Danish national and Nordic record in the LCM 100 fly in July 2024 at the Danish Championships, winning with 51.50. He had become the first Danish swimmer to break 52 seconds in the 100 fly at the 2024 Danish Open in April, when he clocked a 51.87 in prelims. He is also the Danish Junior record-holder in the 50 fly (23.49) and a member of the Danish squad that broke the Nordic record in the 4×100 medley relay (he split 50.8 on the fly leg) at the 2024 European Championships in June.
In 2023, Puggaard represented Denmark at both the European Junior Championships in Belgrade and World Junior Championships in Netanya. At Euro Juniors, he won the 50 fly (23.67) and 100 fly (52.67) and was a member of the winning mixed 4×100 medley and the runner-up men’s 4×100 medley relays. At Junior Worlds, he won the 50 fly (23.50) and 100 fly (52.30).
The 20-year-old Puggaard will suit up with Caiden Bowers, Dar Lavrenko, Ian Platts-Mills, Julien Rousseau, Kenneth Barnicle, Matteo Palmisani, Norvin Clontz, Ryan Erisman, Martin Wrede, Max Goettsch, and Nathan Wiffen next fall. His converted 100 fly time would be Cal’s second-fastest so far this season, behind only Dare Rose (44.55), and it would have been just .14 shy of qualifying for the B final at last year’s NCAA Championships. Rose is in his fifth and final year at Cal, so Puggaard will fill an immediate need upon arrival.
Best LCM times (converted)
- 50 fly – 23.49 (20.53)
- 100 fly – 51.50 (45.13)
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Yaaaay another 20+ yr old foreign freshman. Just what the ncaa intended!!!
Hjertelig tillykke Casper🇩🇰👏
Oooo — careful with the use of the word “contract” these days lol
How the hell does Cal have so many freshmen coming in?
I count 12 incoming freshmen
current roster of 44
18 seniors/grad students
that gives you a roster of 38 next year? you cutting 8 current guys for all of those freshmen?
Cutting all of the freshman Americans apparently.
I’m guessing if your not on the NCAA roster you should be hitting the transfer portal soon
Great news. Go Bears!
I need to know the average age of each class at Cal. Must beat out every other school.
As the parent of a US male high schooler, these articles just twist the knife in my gut. Limited roster spots, 20 year old internationals taking those positions, the future feels so bleak.
Agreed. 100%
NCAA is the best of the best. Stop blaming international swimmers.
Sorry ahead of time for the rant but…
There are so many other colleges and universities. While it may seem bleak if your only goal was to go to Cal. Realistically not many individuals have that opportunity to begin with. Hating the top schools for taking the top swimmers is like hating professional teams for only taking the best players.
There are so many good teams around the country that help people develop at super high levels. Look at some of the mid major D1 schools without football, D2 schools or D3 schools. Many will help your athlete develop, many will set up your athlete for the future outside of the sport and at the end of the day… this… Read more »
Thanks for the response but as someone who watched many of the mid major championships this year, this phenomenon (older internationals) isn’t isolated to the P4. And I realize the answer is- well suck it up and hope your kid gets faster. But, it’s a tough pill to swallow when you watch someone you love sacrifice for years and achieve great things that would have been “enough” to swim for a P4 a couple years ago. But, now, somehow those accomplishments may not be enough for any D1.
Unfortunately athletes can sacrifice for years but that doesn’t really matter. Results matter.
I swam in college and have 2 little kids. If they are swimmers and aren’t good enough to go to a P4 school when they’re in HS, I will never be saddened. I will never get mad at the other swimmers for being faster. It’s ok. If they gave it their best and they aren’t good enough, there’s nothing else that a parent can do or they can do. That’s life.
I swam with and coached many international swimmers. They were all so happy to be able to go to school and train in the USA (most weren’t able to do both in their home… Read more »
when Cal’s entire team leaves (one class of studs), Durden brings in another historically loaded class so he doesn’t have to develop anyone that is currently a freshman, sophomore or junior. Genius actually