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University of Illinois Athletics

2025-26 Swimming & Diving Roster

Kalina Nikolaeva

  • Class Junior
  • Major Recreation, Sport and Tourism
  • Hometown Varna, Bulgaria
  • High School Sprint, Plovdiv
  • Instagram kalinikolaeva
  • NIL kalina-nikolaeva

Biography

NIL Opportunities

2024-25

  • Holds sixth place in program record for 200 backstroke (1:59.88) at Big Ten Championships
  • Seventh fastest 100 IM (58.40) in program history against Eastern Illinois
  • Earned a new personal-best in 100 backstroke (55.62), 200 IM (2:04.65), and 100 fly (59.69) at B1G Conference Championships
  • New personal-best in 50 backstroke (26.75) against Eastern Illinois
  • Academic All-Big Ten 

2023-24

  • Recorded a personal-best 400 IM (4:24.27) and 500 freestyle (4:58.13) at the Boilermaker Invite
  • Swam a personal-best 200 butterfly (2:09.66) and 1000 freestyle (10:35.78) at Kansas
  • Registered a personal-best 50 backstroke (27.83) vs. Nebraska
  • Clocked personal bests in the 100 butterfly (59.98) and 200 IM (2:06.26) at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship

High School

  • Earned Youth Athlete of the Year for Varna City
  • Placed sixth at the European Youth Olympic Festival
  • 16th at the European Junior Championships
  • PBs: 200IM - 2:21.48, 400IM long - 4:56.23

Personal

Chose Illinois because "I can combine swimming and studying both at high level. Also, this university is one of the top public universities in the United States."... She enjoys watching all kinds of sports and likes to take a lot of pictures of things that interest her... She is a National Champion and holds a Bulgarian National Record, she has earned over 300 medals in her career. 

Historical Player Information

  • 2023-24Freshman

    IM/Free
  • 2024-25Sophomore

    IM/Free
  • 2025-26Junior

    IM/Free