Jorgenson, Tanko Claim Silvers at World University Games

Nebraska swimmers Gena Jorgenson and Beatrix Tanko captured silver medals at the World University Games in Germany on Monday.

Jorgenson, a senior-to-be for the Huskers, swam to a Nebraska-record and lifetime best 16:15.44 in the 1,500-meter freestyle, coming up short of the gold by just four one-hundredths of a second. U.S. teammate Kate Hurst took the top spot in 16:15.40, while Japan's Niko Aoki finished third in 16:19.81. 

The performance by Nebraska's two-time first-team All-American in the 1,650-yard free at the NCAA Championships was nearly four seconds faster than her previous best and NU record of 16:19.28 set in June at the USA National Championships in Atlanta. Hurst, who was the 2023 World Junior Champion in the 1,500 free, touched the wall 3.82 seconds ahead of Jorgenson at USA Nationals. Hurst, who finished 10th in the 1,650 free at the 2025 NCAA Championships, will be a sophomore at Texas in 2025-26.

Tanko, a junior-to-be from Budapest, Hungary, followed Jorgenson's medal-winning swim by racing to a silver of her own in the 100-meter freestyle in a time of 58.55, just .01 off her lifetime best set yesterday in the semifinals. Tanko finished .39 seconds behind gold medalist Leah Shackley, who was a six-time NCAA All-American as a freshman at North Carolina State in 2025. Australian Josephine Crimmins earned the bronze (58.62).

Tanko closed out the competition at the World University Games with her second top-eight finish by taking seventh in the 50-meter freestyle on Wednesday, July 23. She raced to a time of 25.22 in the final after posting a career-best 25.12 in the semifinals on Tuesday, July 22.

World University Games Swim Schedule

Thursday, July 17 - Women's 50M Fly Prelim (2:34 a.m. CT) - Beatrix Tanko - 26.83
Thursday, July 17 - Women's 50M Fly Semifinal (12:10 p.m. CT) - Beatrix Tanko - 26.80 (13th)
Friday, July 18 - Women's 100M Free Prelim (2:59 a.m. CT) - Beatrix Tanko  - 56.05
Friday, July 18 - Women's 100M Free Semifinal (12:11 p.m. CT) - Beatrix Tanko - 55.50 (11th)
Sunday, July 20 - Women's 1,500M Prelim (2 a.m. CT) - Gena Jorgenson - 16:23.82
Sunday, July 20- Women's 100M Fly Prelim (2:56 a.m. CT) - Beatrix Tanko - 59.27
Sunday, July 20 - Women's 100M Fly Semifinal (12:52 p.m. CT) - Beatrix Tanko - 58.54
Monday, July 21 - Women's 1,500M Final (12:14 p.m. CT) - Gena Jorgenson - 16:15.44 (2nd)
Monday, July 21 - Women's 100 Fly Final (Noon CT)  - Beatrix Tanko - 58.55 (2nd)
Tuesday, July 22 - Women's 50M Free Prelim (2:20 a.m. CT) - Beatrix Tanko - 25.48
Tuesday, July 22 - Women's 50M Semifinal (2:04 p.m. CT) - 25.12
Wednesday, July 23 - Women's 50M Free Final (12:36 p.m. CT) - 25.22 (7th)