Mark Szaranek is a versatile Scottish swimmer. After training under his father, John, at Carnegie Swimming Club, Szaranek opted to move to the U.S. to continue his career at the University of Florida.
International Career
Szaranek has raced to many Scottish National titles and broken British Junior and Scottish Age Group records. He was a member of the Great Britain squad at the 2013 European Junior Championships where he won a silver medal as a member of the 400 meter freestyle relay and a bronze in the 200 meter IM.
University of Florida
As the 14th ranked recruit in 2014, Szaranek chose the University of Florida over Michigan and Virginia Tech. He had originally made a verbal commitment to the Wolverines but changed his mind, stating Florida was a better fit for him.
2014-2015
In his rookie season as a Gator, Szaranek picked up three All-America honors. At the NCAA Championships he placed 7th in the 400 yard IM and 10th in the 200 yard IM and 800 yard freestyle relay. He was also placed on the SEC All-Freshman team and second-Team All-SEC.
2015-2016
As a sophomore, Szaranek picked up his first medals at the NCAA Championships. He helped Florida to bronze medals in the 400 and 800 yard freestyle relays. He picked up fourth place finishes in the 200 yard freestyle and medley relays. In his individual swims he finished 6th in the 200 yard IM, 9th in the 400 yard IM and 22nd in the 200 yard butterfly.
2016-2017
Szaranek had a breakout season in his junior year, becoming a national champion in the 200 yard IM. He tied with Texas’ Will Licon in 1:40.67 to take the gold.
In the 400 yard IM, he swam to the bronze medal in 3:36.31, just 0.13 behind Andrew Seliskar in second. He also picked up a silver and bronze in the 400 and 800 yard freestyle relays.
2017-18
Szaranek was a part of the Gators’ gold medal 200 yard freestyle relay team alongside Caeleb Dressel, Jan Switkowski and Enzo Martinez-Scarpe, finishing in a pool record time of 1:14.39. Szaranek also picked up medals with the 400 yard freestyle medley relay and 200 yard medley relay teams. In the 400 freestyle medley, the senior was on a silver medal roster with Khader Baqlah, Switkowski and Dressel in 2:45.73. In the 200 medley relay, he placed third alongside Michael Taylor, Chandler Bray and Dressel with a time of 1:22.33. Individually, the senior finished third in the 200 yard IM (1:40.27) and 200 yard breaststroke (1:51.71), ninth in the 400 yard IM (3:37.64) – first in the B final.
2018 Commonwealth Games
Szaranek represented Scotland at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. He earned silver in the 400 IM (4:13.72) and finished fourth in the 200 IM (1:59.24).
ISL – Cali Condors
On June 11, 2019, Mark Szaranek was announced as a member of the Cali Condors ISL team, headed by GM Jason Lezak
