Mackenzie Padington Won’t Return To Minnesota In The Fall Of 2020

Two-time Canadian World Championship team member Mackenzie Padington will not be returning to Minnesota for the 2020-21 NCAA season.

Padington, who is taking an Olympic redshirt for the current college campaign, announced her decision on Instagram on Monday night.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

I would like to confirm that I will not be attending the University Of Minnesota come Fall of 2020. With a lot of consideration I have decided that I want to pursue my swimming career elsewhere. Thank you to the Minnesota coaching staff and team for all that they have taught and given to me as I move forward. The Gophers will always be a part of me and who I am. I’m excited for the future and what it may hold.

A post shared by Mackenzie Padington (@mackenzie.padington) on Jan 6, 2020 at 5:56pm PST

This year Padington, who will be entering her junior season in September, has been training at the High Performance Center – Victoria which will shut down after the 2020 Olympics. In an Instagram comment, she did indicate she would be returning to the NCAA.

As a sophomore, the now 20-year-old Padington finished third at NCAAs in both the 500 and 1650 free and was Minnesota’s second-leading scorer with 32 individual points.

A 2018 Pan Pac bronze medalist in the women’s 4×200 free relay, Padington will have a great shot at making her first Olympic team in April (Trials are Mar.30-Apr.5). At the 2019 World Championship Trials, she placed first in the women’s 400, 800 and 1500 free.