Five Gators Earn Weekly SEC Awards
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 4/6 Florida swimming & diving teams claimed four of the Southeastern Conference’s six weekly honors following the Gators’ sweep over No. 8/12 Georgia, the league announced on Tuesday afternoon.
On the men’s side, Josh Liendo was named the SEC Swimmer of the Week and Ahmed Jaouadi was tabbed Freshman of the Week.
On the women’s side, Anita Bottazzo earned Swimmer of the Week and Maria Garcia captured Diver of the Week honors.
SEC Men’s Swimmer of the Week – Josh Liendo
Liendo led the Gators with a team-high 27 points in his first competition back since representing Canada at the 2025 World Aquatics World Cup. The senior recorded the nation’s top time in all three of his individual events, winning the 50-yard freestyle (18.68), the 50-yard butterfly (19.69) and the 50-yard fly with an NCAA qualifying time of 43.87. Liendo also contributed to both winning relays, swimming the fly leg (19.42) on the 200-medley relay and anchoring the 200-free relay with an 18.54 split to close out the meet.
SEC Men’s Freshman of the Week – Ahmed Jaouadi
Jaouadi tallied first-place finishes in two events in the Gators’ conference-opener win, winning the 1000-yard free in 8:36.65 for the nation’s leading time. He notched another distance victory and recorded an NCAA cut time of 4:15.82 in the 500-yard free. Jaouadi also competed in the 200-yard free and placed fifth with a time of 1:37.17.
SEC Women’s Swimmer of the Week – Anita Bottazzo
Bottazzo won all five of her events in the Gators’ conference-opener win over Georgia. She swept the breaststroke events with times of 26.58 in the 50-breast, 57.05 in the 100-breast and an NCAA qualifying time of 2:07.89 in the 200-breast, having now the fastest two times in both the 50 and 100 breast. Bottazzo also helped Florida win the 200-medley relay with a 25.74 breaststroke leg and anchored the Gators 200 free relay team with a 22.09 split.
SEC Women’s Diver of the Week – Maria Garcia
Garcia recorded personal-bests in both springboard events, winning the 1-meter (325.20) and 3-meter (361.95) and contributing 18 points to Florida’s total.
Up Next
The Gators now turn their focus to mid-season preparations as they head to Athens, Ga., for the Georgia Invitational. The three-day meet runs from Wednesday, Nov. 19, through Friday, Nov. 21, at Gabrielson Natatorium. Florida has swept the event in each of the last two seasons, with the men tallying 1,157.5 points and the women 1,156.5 in last year’s victory.
Stay Connected
Fans can stay up to date with the Florida Gator swimming & diving teams by following @GatorsSwimDv on X and catch up with the latest news and content of the team. Like the team’s Facebook page at Florida Gators Swimming & Diving Fans can also keep up with the team by following them on Instagram at @Gatorsswimdv.
On the men’s side, Josh Liendo was named the SEC Swimmer of the Week and Ahmed Jaouadi was tabbed Freshman of the Week.
On the women’s side, Anita Bottazzo earned Swimmer of the Week and Maria Garcia captured Diver of the Week honors.
SEC Men’s Swimmer of the Week – Josh Liendo
Liendo led the Gators with a team-high 27 points in his first competition back since representing Canada at the 2025 World Aquatics World Cup. The senior recorded the nation’s top time in all three of his individual events, winning the 50-yard freestyle (18.68), the 50-yard butterfly (19.69) and the 50-yard fly with an NCAA qualifying time of 43.87. Liendo also contributed to both winning relays, swimming the fly leg (19.42) on the 200-medley relay and anchoring the 200-free relay with an 18.54 split to close out the meet.
SEC Men’s Freshman of the Week – Ahmed Jaouadi
Jaouadi tallied first-place finishes in two events in the Gators’ conference-opener win, winning the 1000-yard free in 8:36.65 for the nation’s leading time. He notched another distance victory and recorded an NCAA cut time of 4:15.82 in the 500-yard free. Jaouadi also competed in the 200-yard free and placed fifth with a time of 1:37.17.
SEC Women’s Swimmer of the Week – Anita Bottazzo
Bottazzo won all five of her events in the Gators’ conference-opener win over Georgia. She swept the breaststroke events with times of 26.58 in the 50-breast, 57.05 in the 100-breast and an NCAA qualifying time of 2:07.89 in the 200-breast, having now the fastest two times in both the 50 and 100 breast. Bottazzo also helped Florida win the 200-medley relay with a 25.74 breaststroke leg and anchored the Gators 200 free relay team with a 22.09 split.
SEC Women’s Diver of the Week – Maria Garcia
Garcia recorded personal-bests in both springboard events, winning the 1-meter (325.20) and 3-meter (361.95) and contributing 18 points to Florida’s total.
Up Next
The Gators now turn their focus to mid-season preparations as they head to Athens, Ga., for the Georgia Invitational. The three-day meet runs from Wednesday, Nov. 19, through Friday, Nov. 21, at Gabrielson Natatorium. Florida has swept the event in each of the last two seasons, with the men tallying 1,157.5 points and the women 1,156.5 in last year’s victory.
Stay Connected
Fans can stay up to date with the Florida Gator swimming & diving teams by following @GatorsSwimDv on X and catch up with the latest news and content of the team. Like the team’s Facebook page at Florida Gators Swimming & Diving Fans can also keep up with the team by following them on Instagram at @Gatorsswimdv.
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