Three-peat: Nelson tallies third title, named Swimmer of the Championships

Saturday, March 23

Austin, TX

9 AM / 5 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

NCAA Championships

Three-peat: Nelson tallies third title, named Swimmer of the Championships

March 23, 2019 | Women's Swimming & Diving

Wisconsin junior Beata Nelson wins 200 backstroke in 1:47.24

AUSTIN, Texas – Undaunted, undismayed and unafraid, Wisconsin junior Beata Nelson entered the 2019 NCAA Championships with a bold mission – to become a three-time national champion.

On Saturday, she did just that.

Neck and neck with Stanford's Taylor Ruck, Nelson willed her way to a win in the 200-yard backstroke with a collegiate-record mark of 1 minute, 47.24 seconds, securing her third national championship in as many days.

"That was a fun race, right down to the very end," Nelson said. "I went into it staying in my own lane, keeping my blinders and swimming my own way."

Putting herself on the podium once again, Nelson is the only swimmer at the championships to claim three national titles.

Accordingly, the junior was crowned Swimmer of the Championships.

"It's been pretty surreal," Nelson said. "I've had an awesome support system all around me, so it's just been a really great week.

"I'm really happy to represent the Badgers and stand up on the podium and make them all proud."

Nelson will return to Madison with championship trophies for the 200-yard individual medley, 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard backstroke – the most prolific performance in UW program history. The Badgers entered the week with one national title – Maggie Meyer's 200 backstroke crown in 2011 – on the books.

"Everyone on this team on is very supportive of one another, and they want to see everyone succeed," Nelson said. "This group is just awesome."

But just ask Nelson, and she'll say her year has just begun. The junior will now set her sights on U.S. national championships this July.

"I'm planning on hitting some pro series (meets) this summer," Nelson said. "If this meet was any indication of where I'm at, I think it's a good one."