Ella Nelson
2024 U.S. Olympic Trials
• Finished fourth in the 200 breast (2:23.95)
• She swam PB of 2:23.84 in 200 breast semifinals
• Also competed in the 400 IM
• Set PB in 100 breast with time of 1:07.41 in semifinals
• Finished eighth in 100 breast (1:07.83)
NCAA Champion (2)
2023: 800 Free Relay
2021: 800 Free Relay
All-America (20)
2024: 800 Free Relay, 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 Breast
2023: 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 Breast, 800 Free Relay
2022: 200 IM, 200 Breast, 400 IM, 800 Free Relay
2021: 200 Breast, 200 IM, 400 IM, 800 Free Relay
2020: 200 Breast, 200 IM, 400 IM, 800 Free Relay
ACC Champion (10)
2024: 400 IM, 800 Free Relay
2023: 500 Free, 400 IM, 800 Free Relay
2022: 400 IM, 800 Free Relay
2021: 400 IM, 800 Free Relay
2020: 800 Free Relay
All-ACC (16)
2024: 200 Breast, 400 IM, 800 Free Relay, 200 IM
2023: 500 Free, 400 IM, 800 Free Relay
2022: 200 Breast, 400 IM, 800 Free Relay
2021: 200 Breast, 400 IM, 800 Free Relay
2020: 200 Breast, 400 IM, 800 Free Relay
2023-24
• Part of UVA 800 free relay team that place fourth at NCAAs (6:51.41)
• Finished third In 200 breast (2:04.80)
• Was seventh in 200 IM at NCAAs (1:53.65)
• Was sixth in 400 IM (4:04.33) at NCAAs
• Set personal best in 200 breast (2:04.29) at ACC Championships
• Finished first in 400 IM (4:03.80) at ACC Championship
• Finished second in 200 IM (1:54.21) at ACC Championships
• Part of the first-place, ACC championship record, 800 free relay (6:46.28) at ACC Championships
• Posted 59.04 in 100 Breast at Cavalier Invite that ranked No. 8 on UVA all-time list
• Finished first with a time of 1:59.06 for 200 IM at UNC/NC State meet
• Finished second in the 200 breast (2:06.10) at Tennessee Invite
• Won 400 IM with a NCAA A time of 4:03.61 at Tennessee Invite
• Placed second in the 200 IM (1:53.95) at Tennessee Invite
• Placed second in the 200 breast (2:08.86) against Texas
• Placed second in the 200 IM (1:58.03) against Texas
• Won the 200-yard breaststroke by three seconds with a time of 2:09.68 against Florida
• An All-ACC Academic team selection
• Named a first-team 2024 CSCAA Scholar All-American
• ACC Academic Honor Roll
2022-23
• Placed second in the 400 individual medley at NCAAs
• Placed third in the 200 breaststroke at NCAAs
• Placed fourth in the 200 individual medley at NCAAs
• Swam the final leg of the first-place 800 free relay team at NCAAs
• Won the 400 IM setting a pool and meet record at ACC Championships
• Won the 500 free at ACC Championships
• Swam the final leg of the 800 free relay, placing first at ACC Championships
• Won the 200 breast and 400 IM, and placed second in the 200 IM against NC State and North Carolina
• Won the 100 breast and the 500 free against Virginia Tech
• Placed third in the 500 free at the Tennessee Invitational
• Won the 400 IM at the Tennessee Invitational
• Placed third in the 200 breast at the Tennessee Invitational
• Placed second in the 200 IM against Texas
• Placed second in the 200 breast against Texas
• All-ACC Academic Team
• ACC Academic Honor Roll
• SCAA Scholar All-America First Team
2021-22
• Four-time All-American
• Finished third in the 400 IM, fourth in the 200 breast and eighth in the 200 IM at NCAA Championships
• Part of second-place 800 free relay at NCAA Championships
• Set a meet record and swam the second-fastest time in UVA history to win ACC title in the 400 IM
• Swam second leg of 800 free relay that set a meet record and won ACC title
• Finished third in the 200 breast to earn All-ACC and was fifth in the 200 IM with then season-best times
• Won the 200 free, and 200 breast at the team’s meet against NC State
• Placed second in the 1000 free at the team’s meet against North Carolina
• Was second in the 400 IM, third in the 200 breast and fourth in the 500 free at the Tennessee Invitational
• Won the 200 IM and 200 breast against Texas
• Second in the 100 breast and 100 free against Army
• Finished second in the 200 IM, 200 breast and 200 free at California
• CSCAA Scholar All-American
• All-ACC Academic Team
• ACC Academic Honor Roll
2020-21
• Earned three All-America honors, finishing second in the 400-yard IM and 200-yard breaststroke and fifth in the 200-yard IM at the NCAA Championships
• Swam the third leg of UVA’s first relay NCAA championship in the 800 free relay
• Won ACC title in the 400-yard IM, was third in the 200-yard breaststroke and fourth in the 200-yard IM at the ACC Championships
• Anchored the first-place 800 free relay at the ACC Championships
• Won the 400-yard IM against North Carolina
• Won the 200-yard breaststroke and 400-yard IM against Tennessee and Alabama
• Placed third in the 200-yard IM with a personal-best time of 1:54.72 against Tennessee and Alabama
• Won the 200-yard freestyle and placed second in the 200-yard breaststroke against Navy
• Placed fourth at the Toyota U.S. Open in the 200m breast
• All-ACC Academic Team
• Named to ACC Academic Honor Roll
2019-20
• NCAA Championships cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
• Earned All-America honors in the 200 breast, 200 IM, 400 IM and 800 free relay for advancing to the NCAA Championships in the events
• Won an ACC title with the 800-yard freestyle relay
• ACC runner-up in the 200-yard breaststroke and 400-yard individual medley, earning All-ACC honors for both events
• Set a school record in the 200-yard breaststroke and 400-yard individual medley at the ACC Championships
• Placed fourth in the 200-yard individual medley at the ACC Championships
• Recorded the third all-time fastest 200-meter individual medley time in school history at the Toyota U.S. Open Championships
• Captured the eighth-best 100 and 200-meter breaststroke times in school history at the Toyota U.S. Open Championships
• Placed in the top 10 in the 400-yard individual medley (7th), 200-yard individual medley (8th) and 200-yard breaststroke (10th) at the Tennessee Invitational
• Placed second in the 200-yard breaststroke and third in the 400-yard individual medley at the USC Trojan Invite in addition to placing fifth in the 500-yard freestyle and sixth in the 200-yard individual medley
• Named to the All-ACC Academic Team
• Named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll
Background
• Named the 2017-18 national champion by Swimming World Magazine
• Was named to the All-State and Al-Region team four consecutive years
• Holds the national record in the 200 medley relay, setting the record in the 2018
• Advanced to the B finals at the 2019 Phillips 66 National Championships in the 200 Breast (10th place) and 400m IM (15th place)
• Placed 22nd at the 2019 Phillips 66 National Championships in the 100 breast
Personal
• Pursuing a Master’s degree in the McIntire School of Commerce
• Recipient of the 2022-2023 Hollingsworth Family Bicentennial Scholars Fund
• Daughter of Katie Nelson and Gep Nelson