Turkish swimmer Kuzey Tunçelli has earned his first individual win in U.S. college swimming, taking the 800-meter freestyle for the University of Texas at a tri-meet against Indiana and Northwestern on Friday, Oct. 9.
Racing in a short course meters format at Indiana University’s Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center in Bloomington, the 19-year-old touched in 7:42.39, ahead of Indiana sophomore Aiden Hammer (7:45.79). The time met the A qualifying standard for the World Aquatics Swimming Championships, according to Texas Athletics.

The top-ranked Longhorns swept the meet, beating No. 2 Indiana 177.5-122.5 and No. 16 Northwestern 224-76. The teams swam in meters rather than the usual short course yards as athletes prepare for short course World Championship trials; Texas competes next at USA Swimming’s Short Course Worlds Selection Meet on Oct. 28-31.

A record-breaking career
Born in Kocaeli in 2007, Tunçelli made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics as the first Turkish swimmer ever to reach an Olympic final, finishing fifth in the 1,500-meter freestyle and lowering his own world junior record. The same year he became European champion in the 1,500 free.
A Fenerbahçe athlete since 2021 who has also won a world championship bronze medal, Tunçelli committed to Texas in November 2025, joining one of the most successful programs in American college swimming.