Gherghel Shines at World Championships
5/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
After decimating the competition on a national basis, Alabama swimmer Stefan Gherghel took his act international and proved himself a contender.
Just weeks after winning the NCAA 200 butterfly title in Athens, Ga. and leading the Crimson Tide to its first top-20 finish since 1994, Gherghel competed at the short course World Championships in Moscow this week, taking on the best of the best.
The Tide rookie took third in the 200-meter butterfly with a blistering 1:54.16 finishing just behind Great Britian's James Hickman and Australia's Justin Norris. In the 100 butterfly, the All-American took 12th with a 52.85.
Both Gherghel's swims at the World Championships resulted in career best times. After his first year with the Tide Gherghel owns the school record in both the 100 and 200 butterfly. He was the Tide's first NCAA swimming champion since Glenn Mills in 1983 and the first NCAA champion since diver Brent Roberts in 1998.
