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Lana Pudar, a butterfly specialist from Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, has committed to swim and study at the University of Virginia beginning next fall. She wrote on social media:
“I’m beyond excited to announce that I will continue my swimming and academic career at the University of Virginia! Can’t wait to join the team this fall and see what the future holds for us!🧡💙
#gohoos⚔️“
The social media post coincided with a press conference in her home country at the Olympic Committee’s headquarters. “I will do my best to justify this opportunity and to use it in the best possible way,” Pudar said.
Izet Rađo, the head of the BIH Olympic Committee, expressed the joy that Pudar’s results had brought to her home country, but also used the opportunity to stump for enhancements to domestic sporting facilities and resources.
“But today, along with pride, we also feel bitterness. Because Lana Pudar, a champion who carried the name of Bosnia and Herzegovina around the world, must continue her career outside the borders of her homeland, in search of what she did not have here: a swimming pool in her hometown of Mostar, and a serious sports environment,” he said.
“What is still missing is a system that recognizes and builds the future through sport. It is time for athletes to no longer be left to their own devices and their own sacrifices. It is time for serious and sustainable sports development.”
Her coach and manager Damir Đedović will remain involved in her training and development “The main condition was that Lana Pudar would have equal treatment as the best American swimmers. Also, one of the conditions was that I would have access to the training process, that I could participate in further development and education, because Lana would eventually return to BiH,” he said.
Pudar, who turned 19 in January 2025, is one of the world’s top butterflyers. She was the bronze medalist in the 200 fly last February at the World Aquatics Championships-Doha 2024, clocking a 2:07.92 to deny Rachel Klinker of the U.S. a spot on the podium. She achieved her best time in the event at the LEN European Junior Championships in 2023, when she won with 2:06.26, 4.4 seconds ahead of runner-up Alina Baievych of Germany. Also in 2023, she won gold medals in the 100 fly (57.77) and 200 fly (2:07.20, a meet record) and was runner-up in the 50 fly (26.26) at the World Junior Swimming Championships in Netanya, Israel. Her best 100 fly time comes from Euro Juniors, also in 2023, when she won gold with 56.95.
Pudar represented Bosnia & Herzegovina at both the Tokyo Olympics and the Paris Olympics. This past summer in Paris, she was a semi-finalist in the 200 fly (12th with 2:08.74) and finished 17th in prelims of the 100 fly (57.97).
Pudar holds BIH national records in the long course meter 100/200/400 free, LCM 50/100/200 fly, short course meter 50/100/400 free, SCM 50 back, and SCM 50/100/200 fly. She will join the Cavaliers with recent commit Sara Curtis from Italy as well as Madi Mintenko, Raya Mellott, Lily Gormsen, Sylvia Roy, Sophia Umstead, Allison Bischoff, Bryn Greenwaldt, and Lawson Ficken.
Best LCM times (converted to yards):
- 100 free – 55.91 (48.92)
- 200 free – 2:01.99 (1:47.01)
- 50 fly – 26.10 (22.88)
- 100 fly – 56.95 (50.04)
- 200 fly – 2:06.26 (1:51.22)
Pudar’s best converted times would have scored in the A finals of the 100/200 fly at 2025 NCAA Division I Championships. The Cavaliers will lose both Walsh sisters to graduation this spring, so the addition of Pudar will help to fill the holes they leave in both events.
While the conversions are more conservative, Pudar has a better long course best time in the 200 fly than anybody in the NCAA did last season – about six-tenths better than her Virginia teammate Tess Howley (1:51.79). If she converts to yards well, she becomes a co-favorite for the NCAA title with fellow freshman Alex Shackell at Indiana after the top two from last year’s meet (Emma Sticklen, Alex Walsh) both exhausted their eligibility.
She also seems likely to contribute to Virginia’s 800 free relay and maybe their 400 free relay too with some development in both distances.
The Cavaliers have historically focused mostly on Americans in recruiting – South African Aimee Canny, New Zealander Aimee Crosbie, and Japanese Alex Hotta on the men’s team are the only current internationally-based swimmers currently at Virginia. But a recent run that includes Pudar, Curtis, Chris Smith from South Africa, and Kris Mihalyov from South Africa are shifting that paradigm a bit. All are expected to join the team during the 2025-2026 season.
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What gets lost in the chatter is that UVA has a couple of cohorts of elite swimmers who have great chances at showing up next season in a big way, such as Hayes, Hartman and Gorsmen. On top of that, little is said about Midenko’s sprint prowess. The 2 international Olympians will join a number of others in the pool abd get training and weights that they’ve never had, and training alongside of some spint and versalitity legends. Almost all have lots of years of eligibility and a lot of depth. I agree that this much talent will probably cause some issues on the back end, but that is true in Georgia football too, and it’s a lot like that.
I heared that Lana was going to Texas , and I think Bowman is better option for Lana than De Sorbo, she is primarly 200 fly LCM , but I
am not expert and all I can do is wish her best of luck but eventually great move to change enviroment from Bosnia to USA, as she started to stagnate there in Bosnia…
As to US swimmers , US girls it should be your privilege and joy to swim, share a pool and compete with European Senior Gold medalist, only in healthy competiton you can be better….
Are you thinking of Padar who is going to Texas?
No, I wrote Lana, which stands for Lana Pudar, as to Nikoleta Padar Hun, for her better option should have been De Sorbo as she is pure sprinter, I know both of them in person if you are fast you go to sprinting coach, if you have endurance and versatility you go to Bowman, but there is no general story, except for Bowman as he did same thing twice with MP and with LM, awesome job…
Bowman isn’t coaching the Texas women’s undergraduate team. Bowman is only coaching the men’s team and the pro team.
Sure someone like Lana could go to Texas hoping his influence would rub off on her or that she could join the pro team eventually, but both of those things are a huge stretch. And DeSorbo is a great coach with proven success on the women’s side.
if you are worried about “endurance and versatility” see recent success UVA swimmers 200 fly,
200 breast, 200 back, 200 IM.
also 200 free, and NCAA record 4×200 free relay this year!
Lana will thrive at UVA.
No worries, will be great fun to watch Lana in yards in UVA, but I think 100 and 200 fly that is her best , especially 200 fly, I would also follow her underwaters progress as this is what I would like to see her to improve, swimwise she was perfect
Btw I think De Sorbo is great coach, but Bob is different level
This Pudar/Padar mixup is going to be real for the next few months lol.
If you’re a fast female, you go to UVA. If you’re a fast male, you go to Texas. It’s what you do. If you want to save 15% or more on car insurance, you switch to Geico. It’s what you do.
Daily chirp: have fun at the aerobic graveyard, Lana!
Why do you keep changing your handle?
the article already notes it but its pretty interesting the pointy end of the next few classes are much more international than in years past. i wonder this general w other schools as well but how many of these elite international recruits are inbound vs outbound? iow which party generally initiates contact?
I think the Virginia staff’s focus on internationals in the past few months has more to do with striking out on the domestic 2025 and 2026 recruits they really wanted.
For the 2027 class, you’ll see something similar if they don’t get one or more of Erisman, Devereaux, or Buckley.
Yep – while their 2025 class is objectively fantastic, I can assume they really wanted Shackell, Weinstein, O’Dell, Dobson, Bognar, etc etc.
I also think the smaller roster size and training groups will be more attractive to the international stars. Until this group of current HOOs came through they did not have a ton of international hardware now they do and that leads to credibility as well.
Last paragraph includes what will probably be an increasingly common typo. Texas commit Nikolett Padar of Hungary 🇭🇺 mixed up with Lana 🇧🇦.
“far to early” UVA relay predictions-
200 FR Greenwaldt, Curzan, Moesch, Curtis
400 FR Curzan, Moesch, Mintenko, Curtis
800 FR Canny, Moesch, Mintenko, Grimes
200 MR Curzan, Canny, Pudar, Curtis
400 MR Curzan, Weber, Pudar, Moesch
I think you nailed it. If there’s a freshman year adjustment period where Mintenko takes a temporary step back then replace her with Canny on the 400FR and Hayes on the 800FR.
Mintenko is also 22.0 in 50 — pretty nice 5th option backup plan for that relay
Pretty solid line up all around…Novelline could also slide into the shorter medley and free relays. Think she split 22 low/mid in the fly last year
So is anyone else winning Women’s NCAAs this decade?
before all the newly announced swimmers post NCAAs it looked like Virginia at the advantage for 26 (but still needed to perform quite well), but vulnerable in 27 (with the insane class Tennessee has + the compounded losses); Now, not so much since Virginia looks not only been in all the big names, but really will only lose a few scorers after 2026 and are set up well for 26-28
Honestly its crazy that just over 6 months ago (pre grimes commitment, pre shackell commitment change)
it looked like Cal could have a decent shot over the next few years.
If Bella goes to Cal they got a shot a number #2. Texas losing too much, but Stanford should be strong
Stanford first needs a coach. And then we’ll see if anyone hits the portal (my guess is the draw of the Stanford degree with keep most there)
Sure, maybe they can dominate at NCAAs, but could they win a dual meet against their own alumni?
alumni win!
seven swimmer alumni team (since 2021)
WalshX2, Douglass, Nocentini, Madden, Wenger, Nelson
I don’t know if Wenger, or Nelson, are still training so they might be too slow now to beat the college kids who are regularly practicing. I think Maxine Parker is still training though. Is Leah Smith swimming?
OK active alumni- Walsh, Walsh, Douglass, Madden and add Parker for relays!
a close dual meet?
just eyeballing it, the the domestic class of 2027 as a whole is much stronger than the recent few classes. if they all converge on the same program (other than uva) as they have done recently that could tip the balance. but only if that program is texas, tennessee, or cal lol
Just curious on details of why you think this class is stronger.
prob erisman derivaux and Buckley