Four Alabama Swimmers Set for 2021 FINA World Championships

ABU DHABI – Alabama swimming and diving has four swimmers and a coach set to take part in the FINA World Championships, which gets underway Thursday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and will run through Dec. 21.

Rhyan White (USA), Kalia Antoniou (Cyprus), Diana Petkova (Bulgaria) and Kaique Alves (Brazil) are all set to compete for their respective countries, while Crimson Tide associate head coach Ozzie Quevedo will serve as part of Team USA's coaching staff.

White, Antoniou and Petkova all competed at the Tokyo Olympics over the summer, with White earning a silver medal as part of Team USA's 400-meter medley relay contingent. Antoniou competed in the sprint freestyle events, while Petkova swam the 100-meter breaststroke and the 200-meter individual medley in Tokyo.

White is slated to compete in the 50, 100 and 200-meter backstrokes, while Antoniou will swim the 50 and 100-meter freestyles. Petkova is entered in the 50 and 100-meter freestyles, the 50-meter breaststroke and the 100 and 200-meter individual medleys. Alves is part of Brazil's relay contingent.

Head Coach Margo Geer Said

"It's a tremendous honor when you earn the opportunity to represent your country on the world stage. This is a tremendous testament to the hard work, commitment and drive each of these student-athletes bring to the pool every day. We will be cheering them on from Tuscaloosa."

Opening Day

Thursday's prelims are slated to get underway at 11:30 p.m. CT, while finals get underway the next morning at 8 a.m.
Diana Petkova gets things going for the Crimson Tide in the prelims of the 50-meter breaststroke
Rhyan White opens her schedule on Thursday with the prelims of the 100-meter backstroke
Kaique Alves will close Thursday's prelims as part of Brazil's 400-meter freestyle relay

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