Swimming and Diving

A deep dive with Anna Kalandadze

The fourth-year distance swimmer discusses swimming 11,000 yards a day, competing at the NCAA Championships, learning to dive from watching Michael Phelps, her interest in coral reef restoration, and getting circled by a shark.

Greg Johnson



In the News


6ABC.com

Student organization at Penn giving free swim lessons to children with special needs

Penn students are providing free on-campus swim lessons to children with special needs through national nonprofit SNUGS.

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The New York Times

Lia Thomas wins an N.C.A.A. swimming title

With her victory in Atlanta, Thomas became the first openly transgender woman to win an N.C.A.A. swimming championship in the 500-yard freestyle.

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Sports Illustrated

‘I am Lia’: The trans swimmer dividing America tells her story

In her first year swimming for the Penn women’s team after three seasons competing against men, Penn senior Lia Thomas throttled her competition. She set records en route to becoming the nation’s most powerful female collegiate swimmer. “I just want to show trans kids and younger trans athletes that they’re not alone,” she says. “They don’t have to choose between who they are and the sport they love.”

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