Sylvia Roy will transfer to Stanford for the upcoming 2026-2027 season, according to her Instagram bio. Roy spent her freshman season at Virginia and entered the transfer portal in April.
Roy will make the trip to the west coast as she is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She spent her club career with Mount Lebanon Aquatic Club and went to Mount Lebanon High School. She committed to Virginia in October 2023.
She finished her freshman season at the Cavalier Invite in February, swimming a lifetime best 1:54.69 in the 200 back. She also swam season bests in the 50 free (22.62) and 100 back (52.92). She did not swim at ACCs or NCAAs but her 200 back time would have made the ACC ‘B’ final. She was not far off what it took to make it back in the 50 free (22.56) and 100 back (52.61) at 2026 ACCs.
Roy’s Best Times Are:
| High School | Freshman Year | |
| 50 Free | 22.57 | 22.62 |
| 100 Back | 52.53 | 52.92 |
| 200 Back | 1:56.43 | 1:54.69 |
Roy will stay in the ACC as the Stanford women finished 2nd behind Virginia at both the 2026 ACC and NCAA Championships. The team was led by Torri Huske, who has since graduated.
Her arrival will boost the team’s backstroke group that only scored 6.5 points in the 100 back and 26 points in the 200 back at ACCs. Her best time in the 200 back would have been 5th on the team while her 100 back would have been 4th. Natalie Mannion led the team with a 1:51.81 200 back and Alana Berlin led with a 51.40 100 back. Mannion just graduated and Berlin will be a sophomore this fall so the two will have the chance to train together the next few seasons.
UVA is a bait and switch school under Todd. Way to level up Sylvia!
Am I crazy or did UVA just post a video of Chris Smith swimming for them at a meet …? : https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mye0ifxRYc8&pp=0gcJCUELAYcqIYzv&ra=m
it looks like him to me
don’t know what pool or what meet, but there’s several clips of UVA swimmers competing as CAV-Y
including Chris Smith, Bryn Greenwaldt, Hayden Bellotti, and even Sara Curtis (unattached) this morning
Maybe Smith has decided to join UVA this fall
A look at Aimee Canny’s breastroke progress and a talk with her at South African trials might have
changed his mind
I found the guy in question. The meet is the NCAP Qualifier or something. Not Chris Smith
https://www.swimcloud.com/swimmer/1346309/
great detective work BBRocks
Thank you Yswim.
Impressive!
She is, literally, in the 1%.
Excited to see her flourish at Stanford!
Best of luck, Sylvia.
The dynasty had to crumble at some point
Has/when does UVA reach critical mass?
tbh it makes sense, swimming has so little money that if you’re not like at the very top, might as well get a degree from a top school out of it
Ah yes UVA is known for producing worthless degrees.
So you think a UVA degree is more impressive than a Stanford degree….
Depends on the major/program.
What a shame UVA could not continue her progression
Incredible transfer for her! Hopefully it works out and she sees great improvements
Level up!