By Casey Murphy on SwimSwam
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Canadian Olympic Trials finalist Laila Oravsky is headed to the University of Florida in the fall of 2025 to study and swim for the Florida Gators. Oravsky currently trains with the Barrie Trojan Swim Club in Barrie, Ontario, and also competes in open water swimming.
“I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to further my athletic and academic career at the University of Florida! Thank you to my family, friends, coaches and everyone at UF for making this possible! GO GATORS!!!! 
”
In 2022, Oravsky was a finalist at the Canadian Junior and Senior Championships (LCM). She raced the 800 free (8:49.33), 200 breast (2:38.37), 200 free (2:03.55), 100 breast (1:13.55), and 200 fly (2:21.33), placing 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, and 8th respectively.
Later that year at the FINA World Cup in Toronto (SCM), Oravsky claimed herself a spot on the podium in the 1500 free, finishing third behind Beatriz Dizotti (15:48.82) and Katie Ledecky (15:08.24) with a time of 16:16.86. She also achieved 8th place in the finals of the 400 free with a personal best time of 4:11.21.
At the 2023 Speedo Canadian Championships (LCM), Oravsky won the 800 free (8:52.67) and placed 2nd in the 1500 free (17:13.05), 2nd in the 400 free (4:17.08), 3rd in the 400 IM (4:54.80), 4th in the 200 IM (2:19.94), and 6th in the 200 free (2:04.16).
Oravsky continued her success by winning the women’s 10 km (2:10:57.6) at the 2023 Canadian Open Water Festival, which qualified her for the 2024 World Aquatics Championships where she improved her time to 2:09:16.40. She also raced the 5 km at the Championship and posted a time of 59:22.40.
She also represented Canada at the 2023 World Junior Championships (LCM) in Netanya, Israel, finishing 15th in the 1500 free with a time of 17:09.43. At the 2023 Pan American Games (LCM) in Santiago, Chile, she achieved 8th place in the 1500 free (17:18.64) and 9th place in the 800 free (9:05.45).
Fast forward to 2024, Oravsky achieved four personal bests at the Bell Canadian Swim Trials (LCM) and secured three top-eight finishes. She earned 4th place in the 1500 free (17:07.30) and finished 8th in both the 400 free (4:17.90) and the 800 free (8:57.74).
Top Times
| LCM | SCM | SCM Converted to SCY |
| 400 free – 4:17.08 | 400 free – 4:11.21 | 500 free – 4:47.09 |
| 800 free – 8:49.28 | 800 free – 8:32.96 | 1000 free – 9:46.24 |
| 1500 free – 16:45.11 | 1500 free – 16:16.86 | 1650 free – 16:11.03 |
With another year still left to go, Oravsky’s converted SCM 800 free and 1500 free times would have ranked 3rd this season for 1000 free and 1650 free for the Florida Gators. Her arrival is predicted to strengthen their distance group.
The Florida Gators captured the SEC Championship title on both the women’s and men’s sides this season for the second year in a row. The women broke eight school records and attained 25 top-10 times. Their final score of 1391.5 was a program best.
At the Olympic Trials in Indianapolis this month, 35 former, current, and incoming Gators are competing, including junior Emma Weyant and freshman Bella Sims who both earned silver medals in Tokyo. Weyant secured a silver medal with a time of 4:32.76 in the 400 IM, while Sims contributed to the 800 free relay’s silver medal, clocking a split of 1:58.59.
Oravsky will join Zuri Ferguson, Lilla Bognar, Grace Rabb, Kathleen Turano, Lynsey Bowen, and Sylvia Statkevicius as a part of University of Florida’s recruiting class of 2025. Statkevicius also competed at the Bell Canadian Swim Trials this year where she broke the Lithuanian record in the 200 free with a time of 1:59.13. The previous record was held by Ruta Meilutyte.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.
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Read the full story on SwimSwam: University of Florida Gains Canadian Olympic Trials Finalist Laila Oravsky (2025)