World Championship gold medalist and former SEC champion Matt King is headed back to where it all started (sort of), announcing he’s headed to Indiana University for the 2024-25 season.
King, a member of the high school class of 2020, initially committed to Indiana in January of 2019, but seven months later, reversed course and opted to switch his commitment to Alabama, where he competed as a freshman in 2021 and won the SEC title in the men’s 100 free.
After one season with the Crimson Tide, King transferred to the University of Virginia, where he had an impressive sophomore season, including placing 7th in the 100 free at the 2022 NCAA Championships and playing a key role on the Cavaliers’ 200 free relay that broke the American Record.
During his junior year, King left Virginia after the first semester, heading home to deal with a family matter. He then made the move to Texas Ford Aquatics to train with former Alabama coach Coley Stickels, and ultimately opted to redshirt the 2023-24 NCAA season to prep for the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Now, once he’s done competing this summer, King will head to Bloomington, joining the Hoosiers four years after he was originally scheduled to, with at least two seasons of eligibility remaining (SwimSwam has reached out to King for clarity on his remaining eligibility).
King made the announcement on his Instagram story on Wednesday with the caption: “Back like I never left.”
The 22-year-old has been on an impressive run of form since joining Stickels at Texas Ford, qualifying for the 2023 U.S. World Championship team and winning three medals in Fukuoka, earning the complete set with gold on the men’s 400 medley relay, silver in the mixed 400 free relay, and bronze on the men’s 400 free relay.
He was then named to the 2024 World Championship team, placing 7th in the men’s 100 free and 14th in the 50 free while winning three more relay medals.
King has established himself as a bonafide contender to make the U.S. Olympic team next month, and come the 2024-25 NCAA season, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with individually while also providing a big boost to Indiana’s sprint relays.
King’s best times in short course yards stand at 18.96 in the 50 free and 41.34 in the 100 free, both quicker than Indiana’s quickest from last season (19.08 and 41.66 from Rafael Miroslaw).
The Hoosiers placed 4th at the 2024 NCAAs, just two points back of 3rd-place Florida, despite failing to crack the top eight in either the 200 or 400 free relay. That could change now with King joining the fold, aligning with rising sophomore Mikkel Lee, a Singaporean sprinter, Miroslaw, and Tomer Frankel, who will return for his fifth year of eligibility.
Boy oh boy where do l even begin. Matt King… honey, my pookie bear. My glorious king I have loved you ever since I first laid eyes on you. The way you drive your legs and strike fear into your enemies eyes. Your silky smooth touch in the water, and that gorgeous dive. I would do anything for you. I wish it were possible to freeze time so I would never have to watch you retire. You’ve given me such joy. Watching you carry the sword of Wumbo and succeed your dreams under the leadership of Coley the great, has given me nothing but happiness. The city of Bloomington will Bloom once again with the gracious king back in his… Read more »
Where will he be next month?
Matt King will be swimming at the Olympic trials. And you?
Retired, after 60 years of coaching, what about you?
Sounds like you miss it. As for next month, a couple of week-end trips and the rest of the time, working the homestead.
Missed what?
Nice to see one of the premier clubs (TFA) in north texas get some recognition
Great addition for IU!
Great swimmer. Inspiring person. Can’t wait to see what kind of magic he brings to IU. Go Hoosiers ; )
So happy for Matt King! Moving out of toxic UVA! He deserves so much better! Go Matt! IU is lucky to have such an amazing swimmer!
Toxic UVA ?
For a swimmer on his 5th iteration of a new swimming program since high school, I don’t think it’s fair to call UVA ‘toxic’ in this case
Not to mention he hasn’t even been at uva for over a year now.
How much time does one need to decide on a toxic environment or coach? Just curious? One year isn’t enough?
You cast the aspersion. What makes the program toxic?
Seems that a toxic program would have a lot of turnover. As far as I’m aware, no UVa swimmer entered the portal this year.
swam his best 100yard free and best 100yard fly at UVA!
Should Heilman flip?
Good maybe some coach will work on his stroke technique.
5’10 150 lb and goes 47 I think he’s fine twin
He could be even faster with better stroke mechanics. He didn’t go under 48 in individual 100 free in Doha
lol “didn’t go under 48”, we are getting so numb to mind boggling fast times. We forget that not too long ago under 49 was insane!
I don’t want to make anyone feel old but it’s been probably 25 years since going sub-49 was insane. Very good, yes. Insane, nahhh.
I would think he has 2 years of eligibility left
NCAAs will be the most wide open in a long time. Can see any of UT, Florida, Cal, or Indiana taking it.
UF needs a 5th year announcement from Adam Chaney STAT. With their incoming class, plus all their returning swimmers (I expect Buff to be a much bigger factor this year – it usually takes a year to adjust), this is their best shot to take this.