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UGA Swim Signee Gemmell Named To USA Swimming World Championship Team

Jun 22, 2009 by Georgia Sports Communications

ATHENS, Ga. - University of Georgia swimming signee Andrew Gemmell was named during the weekend to the USA Swimming Team that will compete in next month’s FINA World Championships. His selection was based on his performance in the 10K race at the USA Swimming Open Water National Championships earlier this month.

Gemmell, a native of Wilmington, Del., will compete in the 5K and 10K events at the open water events at the World Championships, which is scheduled for July 19-25 in Ostia Lido di Roma in Ostia, Italy.

At the Open Water National Championships held in Fort Myers, Fla., Gemmell was the second American to finish the 10K race with a time of 1:52:43. The 10K race serves as the qualifying event for all three open water distances – the 5K, 10K and 25K – at the World Championships, therefore solidifying his spot with the US National Team.

As one of the automatic selections to the World Championships, Gemmell could have decided to also swim the 5K and the 25K, but elected to concentrate on the two shorter distances. While also at the open water national championships, Gemmell finished third in the 5K race in a time of 52:51.

Gemmell is part of an eight member recruiting class that signed National Letters of Intent in November to swim for Georgia.

Gemmell is considered to be the top 400 individual medley recruit in the nation, having won gold in the event at the World Youth Championships last summer. Under the tutelage of his father, Bruce, who coaches the Delaware Swim Club, Gemmell qualified for five events at last summer’s Olympic Trials and was a three-time USA Swimming Academic All-American. Gemmell figures to be a contributor in the individual medley, backstroke, butterfly and distance freestyle events for the Bulldogs.

Tagged: uga swim team, andrew gemmell, usa swimming world championship team