Maximus Williamson Wins NCAA Title in the 200 FreeMaximus Williamson Wins NCAA Title in the 200 Free

Maximus Williamson Wins NCAA Title in the 200 Free

Maximus Williamson won the 200 Free, giving the Cavalier men their first NCAA champion since 2011. Thomas Heilman placed fourth in the 100 Fly

ATLANTA  – The Virginia Cavaliers earned two podium finishes on Thursday (March 26) at the 2026 NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship, being held at the McAuley Aquatics Center in Atlanta, Ga.

Freshman Maximus Williamson won the 200 Freestyle, the fifth NCAA individual event title in the UVA men’s program’s history and its first since 2011.

Williamson tied for eighth place in the prelims with his teammate, sophomore David King. King ceded the spot in the final to Williamson to avoid a swim-off, as the top eight swimmers advance to the final. Williamson took advantage of the opportunity, clocking a 1:30.03 to win the race from lane eight.

Williamson is the first freshman to win the 200 Free since 2016 and has the second-fastest time ever for a freshman. His mark also broke his own UVA program record in the event.

Freshman Thomas Heilman also had a podium finish, placing fourth in the 100 Fly.

Heilman broke his own school record with a prelim swim of 44.07 to qualify for the final, and then bettered that mark with a 43.58 in the final.

Williamson and Heilman also swam on the 200 Free Relay, combining with senior Jack Aikins and freshman Noah Powers to turn in the third fastest time in the morning session with a 1:15.17. After the final eight teams swam in the evening session, the Cavaliers earned a 10th-place finish in the event and Second Team All-America honors.

The Cavaliers are in ninth place in the team standings heading into the third day of the competition.

On Friday, the Cavaliers will compete in the 100 Back, 50 Free and 400 Medley Relay.

Prelims begin at 10 a.m. with the final session starting at 6 p.m. Both sessions will stream live on ESPN+.

NOTES

  • David King earned Second Team All-America honors for his ninth-place finish in the 200 Back (1:31.17)
  • Spencer Nicholas and Hayden Bellotti both competed in the prelims of the 100 Fly, just missing scoring in the event. Nicholas finished 20th (45.14) and Bellotti 21st (45.18)
  • Bellotti’s time moves him up to No. 3 on the UVA all-time list in the 100 Fly
  • The 200 Free Relay’s time was the third fastest in program history
  • Williamson joins Shamek Pietucha (1999 - 200 Fly), Ed Moses (2000 – 100 & 200 Breast) and Matt McLean (2011 – 500 Free) as UVA’s NCAA event champions

Team Standings 

  1. Texas 215.5
  2. Florida 205
  3. Arizona State 133.5
  4. Indiana 132.5
  5. Cal 124
  6. NC State 122
  7. Michigan 115
  8. Tennessee 107
  9. Virginia 88
  10. Stanford 83

NCAA Champions
Maximus Williamson - 200 Free

First Team All-American Honors
Jack Aikins: 800 Free Relay
Thomas Heilman: 100 Fly, 800 Free Relay
David King: 800 Free Relay
Maximus Williamson: 200 Free, 800 Free Relay

Second Team All-American Honors
Jack Aikins: 200 Free Relay
Thomas Heilman: 200 Free Relay
David King: 200 Back
Noah Powers: 200 Free Relay
Maximus Williamson: 200 Free Relay