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Gia Pergolini, a 2020 Paralympic gold medalist in the S13 100m backstroke,* has committed to Florida International University.
“I am so grateful and excited to announce my commitment to Florida International University. I am so blessed to continue my swimming career with the Panther family. I can’t wait to experience the fun memories, and new relationships that the next four years will bring me. GO PANTHERS!!!!”
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In addition to winning the gold medal at the 2020 Olympics, Pergolini broke the 100m back world record with her time of 1:04.64. At the time, she was just 17 years old.
Pergolini is a member of the class of 2023 at St. Francis High School in Milton, Georgia. She’s been swimming competitively since she was 5 years old, and her record-setting swims go back to 2017, when she set the American and Pan Am records in the S13 100m backstroke.
Currently, Pergolini holds the world record in the 100m backstroke and 200m backstroke, and American records in the 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, and 200m backstroke.
Pergolini trains with the Dynamo Swim Club in Atlanta, Georgia.
Best short-course yards times:
- 100 back: 54.97
- 200 back: 2:00.58
- 50 free: 24.28
- 100 free: 54.04
FIU is a member of Conference USA. At the 2021 C-USA Championships, FIU placed 1st out of 6 teams.
Pergolini is already poised to become a top-5 backstroker at FIU. With her best time, she would’ve been the 4th-fastest 100 backstroker this season, and the 5th-fastest 200 backstroker.
She also can compete in sprint freestyle, her times ranking her as a top-10 50 freestyler for the team this season.
Arguably, FIU’s most famous Paralympic athlete is Ileana Rodriguez, a 2008 and 2011 double-graduate and leader of the 2020 Paralympic refugee team. Rodriguez is a swimmer competing under the SB5 qualification, and she also competed at the 2012 London Paralympics.
Pergolini will join FIU after she graduates in the fall of 2023.
*Pergolini competes in the S13, SB13, and SM13 disability classes, which refers to athletes considered blind by the International Blind Sports Federation. Athletes who compete in the S13 classes have partial vision, with less severe impairment compared to classifications S11 and S12.
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