University of Florida senior Julian Smith had a phenomenal showing last week at the SEC Championships, winning two individual titles and playing a key role on a pair of record-setting relays for the Gators.
The highlight of Smith’s incredible meet came in the final of the men’s 100 breaststroke, where he produced the fastest swim in history.
The 22-year-old fired off a time of 49.51 to break the NCAA, U.S. Open and American Record of 49.53, set by Cal’s Liam Bell at the 2024 NCAA Championships.
Smith, a native of Saint Augustine, Fla., also lowered his own SEC and Florida school record of 49.98, set in November, and broke former Gator Caeleb Dressel‘s SEC Championship Record of 50.03 from 2018.
Split Comparison
Smith went out like a rocket en route to his record, opening in 22.96 at the 50, nearly half a second quicker than he was at the midseason Georgia Invite.
| Smith, 2025 SECs | Bell, 2024 NCAAs | Smith, 2024 UGA Invite |
Dressel, 2018 SECs
|
| 22.96 | 23.15 | 23.45 | 23.42 |
| 49.51 (26.55) | 49.53 (26.38) | 49.98 (26.53) | 50.03 (26.61) |
RACE VIDEO
Courtesy: UGA Swim & Dive on YouTube
The swim came after Smith recorded the fastest 50 breast split of all-time on Florida’s 200 medley relay, splitting 22.15 as the Gators ended up finishing in the runner-up position behind Tennessee.
Smith also won the 200 IM at SECs in a personal best of 1:39.38, and placed 6th in the 100 free with another PB of 41.34.
In the relays, shortly after his 50 breast split on the 200 medley, Smith had the fastest leg on Florida’s SEC Record setting 800 free relay on Tuesday night, splitting 1:29.67 as the Gators clocked 6:02.50 to break the conference record by three seconds and near the NCAA Record of 6:02.26 set by Cal in 2024.
In the 400 medley relay, Smith recorded the second-fastest 100 breast split in history (48.95) as the Gators smashed the all-time record in 2:55.66, and the following night in the 400 free relay, he split 40.76 as Florida finished as the runner-up to record-breaking Tennessee.
Smith’s performances landed him SEC Men’s Swimmer of the Meet honors.
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