Kentucky Adds Three More International Swimmers to Women’s 2026 Recruiting Class

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The University of Kentucky has added three more international swimmers to its 2026 women’s recruiting class: Valeria Tarin of Mexico, Gabrielle Idle-Beavers of England and Yasmin Silva of Peru.

Tarin currently trains with Desert Dragons in Chihuahua, where she excels at the shorter distances of free, back and fly. She competed at the 2025 World Junior Championships (LCM), racing the 50 free (26.80), 50 back (31.12) and 100 back (1:07.62). A four-time junior national champion, Tarin has also qualified for the Pan Pacific Junior Championships and was a top three finisher in multiple events at the Mexican National Championships.

Tarin posted a series of strong performances at the 2026 Arena Elite Championships (LCM) in April, logging lifetime bests in three events. She won the 100 back (1:05.33 – PB) and 50 fly (28.77 – SB) and placed 3rd in the 50 free (26.37 – PB), 6th in the 100 free (57.85 – PB) and 10th in the 50 back (30.97 – SB).

Best Times LCM (SCY Conversion)

• 50 free – 26.37 (23.03)
• 100 free – 57.85 (50.67)
• 100 back – 1:05.33 (57.77)
• 50 fly – 28.30 (24.86)

Idle-Beavers will head to Kentucky from England, where she represents Mount Kelly Swimming and primarily specializes in breast and IM. She most recently competed at the AP Race International Meet (LCM) in April, which saw her contest the 50 breast (31.84) and 100 breast (1:08.69 – PB).

At the 2026 Sheffield Premier Open Meet (LCM) in March, Idle-Beavers clocked a handful of personal best performances. She raced the 50 free (26.49 – PB), 100 free (58.05), 50 back (30.89 – PB), 50 breast (31.60 – PB), 100 breast (1:09.67) and 200 IM (2:22.21). Earlier in the season, she set a personal best time of 2:20.72 in the 200 IM at the Arena Lisbon International Meeting.

Best Times LCM (SCY Conversion)

• 50 breast – 31.60 (27.56)
• 100 breast – 1:08.69 (1:00.08)
• 200 IM – 2:20.72 (2:03.89)

Another 2025 World Junior Championships qualifier, Silva represents the Peruvian Swimming Federation and swims for Streamline Club in Trujillo, primarily specializing in fly and IM. She recently competed in the 2026 Mare Nostrum Swim Tour (LCM), which was highlighted by a lifetime best performance in the 200 fly (2:11.86) at the stop in Canet-en-Roussillon.

At the 2025 National Senior Championship (LCM) in December, Silva posted a series of strong performances. She won the 100 fly (1:03.26), 200 fly (2:20.15) and 400 IM (5:09.51 – SB) and took 2nd in the 400 free (4:38.04 – PB) and 200 back (2:30.50), 3rd in the 50 fly (28.73) and 200 IM (2:30.79), 4th in the 800 free (9:35.58 – PB) and 1500 free (18:21.92 – PB) and 5th in the 100 back (1:10.92). She also set a best time of 1:02.79 in the 100 free as the leadoff on the 400 free relay.

Best Times LCM (SCY Conversion)

• 100 fly – 1:01.47 (54.11)
• 200 fly – 2:11.86 (1:56.27)
• 200 IM – 2:26.47 (2:09.07)
• 400 IM – 5:03.97 (4:28.08)

A Division I program, Kentucky competes in the Southeastern Conference, with the women’s team finishing 12th at the 2026 SEC Championships in February. Three athletes went on to compete at the NCAA Division I Women’s Championships, but they did not score any points in the team standings.

The three international recruits will bring added depth to the Wildcats across the board, and are currently poised to be some of the team’s top competitors in their top events based on their projected converted times.

Tarin, Idle-Beavers and Silva will join Allie Joyce, Quinn Schureck and Karrington Hansen in Kentucky’s class of 2030.

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