Back from two years away, Tanner Nelson showed up at 2026 NCAAs

byu swim and dive,byu men's swimming

Kiara Xanthos

April 13, 02:58 PM April 13, 03:59 PM

Most swimmers dont step away for two years and come back anywhere close to the same level.

Tanner Nelson didnt just come back he went straight to the 2026 NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships.

After serving a mission in Puebla, Mexico from 2022 to 2024, Nelson returned to BYU Cougars this season and wasted no time reestablishing himself. By March, he wasnt just back in the water he was racing on the sports biggest stage.

He opened his meet Wednesday in the 1650-yard freestyle, one of the most physically demanding events in swimming. Nelson went 15:01.40, his fastest time since returning from his mission, holding his pace in a race that doesnt allow much room to hide.

Thursday brought the 400-yard individual medley, an event that speaks to his range. Nelson holds BYU school records in the 500, 1000, 1650 freestyle and the 400 IM a combination thats rare at any level, let alone against NCAA competition.

He closed Friday in the 500 freestyle, finishing off three straight days of racing in one of the fastest meets in the country. At NCAAs, theres no easing into races every heat is fast, and every detail matters.

Still, the bigger story isnt just what Nelson swam. Its how quickly he got back here.

During the NCAA broadcast, Nelson was recognized for the uniqueness of his path stepping away from the sport for two years, then returning and qualifying for NCAAs in his first season back. That kind of turnaround isnt common, and its even harder to sustain.

But Nelson made it look normal.

For BYU, his performance adds to the programs growing presence on the national stage. For Nelson, its a reminder of where hes at and how quickly he got there.

Back from a mission, BYU swimmer Tanner Nelson is ready to compete at nationals

byu swim and dive,byu men's swimming

Kiara Xanthos

March 17, 02:33 PM March 17, 02:46 PM

After stepping away from the pool for two years, BYU swimmer Tanner Nelson is heading back to one of college swimmings biggest stages.

Nelson will compete at the NCAA championships, scheduled for March 2528, marking the continuation of a journey that has taken him far beyond the pool.

Nelson grew up in South Jordan, where he swam for Bingham High School and became one of the states top swimmers before joining BYUs swimming and diving program.

As a freshman, he quickly established himself as one of the Cougars top swimmers, qualifying for the NCAA Championships and setting the tone for his collegiate career.

After that season, he stepped away from competition to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Puebla, Mexico.

Returning for the 2024-25 season, Nelson faced the challenge of getting back into racing shape after time away from the sport, but he worked his way back into form and became a key contributor for BYU.

Growing up I always wanted to swim in college, Nelson said. After having a great freshman year and qualifying for NCAAs my freshman year, it feels full circle after qualifying again for NCAAs. It was hard to come back from my mission in Mexico, but I know that hard work and dedication pay off.

His return season has been highlighted by a win in the 400 individual medley at the Big 12 Championships, and he holds program records in multiple distance events.

Nelson said his mission played a major role in shaping his mindset as he returned to competition.

The mission taught me to look for God in places I didnt really look before, Nelson said. Ive seen Gods hand directing my swimming and Ive relied on Him a lot more this past year.

His performances this season earned him a spot at the NCAA championships, where he will compete against some of the top swimmers in the country.

It means a lot to be able to represent the Y., Nelson said. Im grateful for my teammates and coaches who have helped me achieve my goals, and I know that representing BYU at the NCAA championships will leave a long-lasting impact on everyone around me.

As the NCAA Championships approach, Nelson will represent BYU on the national stage a full-circle moment shaped by faith, sacrifice and a return to the sport he never left behind.

nullDaily Universe Sports

Relays, records and results: BYU swim and dive teams dominate home meet

byu men's swimming,byu women's swimming,byu men's diving,byu women's diving,byu swim and dive

Kiara Xanthos

January 25, 06:40 PM January 25, 07:03 PM

Relay dominance and record-breaking performances powered the BYU mens and womens swim and dive teams as they closed a two-day home meet Saturday at the Stephen L. Richards Building Pool against the United States Air Force Academy and Colorado Mesa University.

After building an early advantage on Friday, the Cougars used Saturdays session to reinforce their control of the meet through depth across events and consistent performances in both swimming and diving.

BYU made an immediate impact in the 400 medley relays to open the session. The womens A relay Emma Marusakova, Lucy Warnick, Sarah Eliason and Tatum Cooley finished first in 3:40.23, breaking the pool record by more than six seconds.

The men followed with another winning performance from Tanner Edwards, Peter Etzold, Jacob Aina and Max Kleinman, posting a time of 3:10.42 to set another pool record and extend BYUs strong relay showing throughout the meet.

Middle-distance and distance events produced several standout finishes for the Cougars. Lucy Warnick led a one-two finish in the womens 200 individual medley, with Brinley Knoll close behind in second, while Emma Marusakova claimed first place in the 200 backstroke. On the mens side, Tanner Nelson won the 200 freestyle, and Darwin Anderson added a victory in the 1650 freestyle.

Victoria Schreiber added another pool record for the Cougars, winning the womens 200 freestyle in 1:48.66, with Haylee Tiffany finishing close behind in second.

Sprint events continued to highlight BYUs depth. In the womens 50 freestyle, the Cougars swept the top four spots, led by Tatum Cooleys winning time of 22.99.

Max Kleinman added to BYUs sprint success on the mens side by taking first place in the 50 freestyle.

Relay racing again shaped the closing stretch of the meet. The BYU womens A team of Taylor Bennett, Sophie Scoville, Lily Flint and Cooley won the 200 freestyle relay, setting both a new team record and a new pool record.

The mens A relay Max Kleinman, Tanner Nelson, Joshua Reed and Payton Plumb matched the performance with another pool-record swim, while BYUs B relays on both the mens and womens sides also placed among the top finishers.

The Cougars also picked up key points on the diving boards. Marti Llop delivered a decisive performance in the mens 3-meter diving event, winning by more than 40 points, as BYU divers contributed important scoring depth on both sides of the competition.

BYU swimmers and divers combined for multiple event wins and relay victories to close the home meet as the team looks ahead to the remainder of the season, including an upcoming rivalry meet against the University of Utah.

The meet is expected to draw national attention with the presence of Kyle Sockwell, who is traveling the country as part of his Dual Meet Tour highlighting high-level collegiate swimming.