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Canadian swimmers Kesa Taivassaro Taivassalo has verbally committed to continue his swimming career and attend the University of South Carolina in the fall of 2025. Taivassalo currently trains at Markham Aquatic Club and attends Bill Crothers Secondary School in Markham, Ontario.
“I am very proud and excited to verbally commit to further both my athletic and academic careers at the University of South Carolina. From the moment I stepped on campus to officiate, the team has made me feel so welcome and the coaching staff has been accommodating. Coach Jeff's vision for the future of the program is one I want to be a part of and I can't wait to see what the future holds. This is just the beginning.”
Taivassallo recorded a best time of LCM 2:35.17 in the 200m breaststroke at last year's Speed Canada Championships, finishing second overall and second nationally in the 15-16 age group. Summer McIntoshTai Vassallo, the world record holder in the 400m individual medley, recorded a time of 2:29.56. Tai Vassallo has earned a total of 15 personal bests at the SCM and LCM in 2023.
Taivassalo continued to improve this year, setting 10 new personal bests, including a notable performance at the Ontario Winter Championships (LCM) where he won the 200m breaststroke in a time of 2:33.16.
In comparison, advanced Laura Gettler The Gamecocks have had a spectacular season, winning the 200 breaststroke in 2 minutes, 10.29 seconds, the fifth-best time in program history. Delaney Franklin And second grade Megan Harnish Franklin made a major contribution by taking second place in the 200-meter breaststroke for the University of South Carolina with a time of 2 minutes 12.31 seconds, followed by Harnish with a time of 2 minutes 13.57 seconds.
Tai Vassallo’s SCY bests date back to 2022, but when converted to LCM, her times show her on a competitive level with the top breaststrokers at the University of South Carolina.
Top LCM Time to SCY Conversion
| Least Squares Method | SCY conversion |
| 100 Breaststroke – 1:12.63 | 1:03.63 |
| 200 Breaststroke – 2:33.16 | 2:14.37 |
| 200 Individual Medley – 2:30.92 | 2:13.08 |
Ty Vassallo is preparing to play at the University of South Carolina, but swimming has long been a shared passion in her family. Her older brother, Braden Tyvassaloswam as a freshman at the University of Texas this season and won a gold medal in the 200 breaststroke (1:53.28) at the Big 12 Championships.
He won a silver medal (2:10.89) in the LCM 200 breaststroke at the Pan American Games in Santiago in 2023. That same year, Brayden Taivassalo was ranked #1 in Canada in the 17-18 age group in the LCM 50 breaststroke, 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke.
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