It was a historic day for the Texas A&M swimming and diving program as senior-to-be Bethany Galat became the first current Aggie swimmer to earn a medal at an Olympic or World Championship event on Friday at the 2017 FINA World Championships.
Galat, from Mishawaka, Ind., earned the silver medal with a runner-up finish in the women’s 200-meter breaststroke in a lifetime-best and school record time of 2:21.77. Galat used a stellar back-half effort to move from seventh place at the 100-meter mark to second place behind Russia’s Yulia Efimova (2:19.64). Galat covered the final 50 meters in a swift 36.27, which was the second-fastest final split behind Efimova’s 35.97. Grabbing the bronze medal was Jinglin Shi of China (2:21.93), while fellow American and 2017 NCAA 200 breast champion Lilly King was fourth (2:22.11).
In other action involving the Aggies on Day 6 of the World Championships, senior-to-be Béryl Gastaldello set the French record in the women’s 50-meter butterfly with 25.79 effort in the prelims and placed 15th overall with a time of 26.01 in the semifinals. 2017 senior Sarah Gibson placed 22nd in the women’s 50 fly in 26.65. 2017 senior Turker Ayar, representing Turkey, placed 24th in the men’s 100 fly with a lifetime-best time of 52.52.
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics