The Florida International Panthers had a secret weapon on their roster when they picked up a big win against Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday. This past weekend was the debut of South African National Team swimmer Kyna Pereira, whose addition was announced over the summer, but who sat out the fall semester.
Her immediate finishes gave a big boost to the Panthers’ effort, as she won the 1000 free in 10:09.80 and the 500 free in 5:01.42.
Pereira is a true distance swimmer, with long course bests of:
- 200 free – 2:04.16
- 400 free – 4:18.41
- 800 free – 8:54.10
- 100 back – 1:05.38
- 200 back – 2:17.31
Pereira has earned experience by racing at the African Championships and Short Course Worlds in 2012, the BHP Billiton Super Series in 2013 and 2014, and at the World Championships in 2013.
She is one of two mid-year additions for FIU, who also previously added a phenomenal sprint freestyler/butterflier in Italian Letizia Bertelli. Bertelli’a slong course bests include:
- 50 free – 26.11
- 100 free – 57.34
- 100 fly – 1:01.10
At the 2014 South African Championships, the then-18-year-old Pereira placed 4th in the 400 free and 3rd in the 800 free. Pereira and Bertelli’s additions will give them 18 international athletes on a roster of 31 swimmers and divers, living up to the “International” in the school’s name.