Anastasia Gorbenko Shatters Louisville School Record in 200 IM at First Chance Meet
The 2026 Louisville Invitational First Chance Meet took place on February 5-6, 2026, at the Ralph Wright Natatorium in Louisville, Kentucky. This event featured a 25-yard short course format and operated under a prelims/finals structure. Results were available on Meet Mobile under the title "UofL Invitational 1st Chance Meet."
Designed primarily for swimmers aiming to secure their final spots on post-season rosters or finish their season on a high note, the Louisville First Chance Meet is part of a series of similar events occurring over the weekend. However, it’s not uncommon for standout athletes to make an appearance, seizing the opportunity for one last performance before diving into championship season or attempting to qualify for NCAA competition.
This past Friday, newcomer Anastasia Gorbenko made headlines by setting a new school record in the 200 Individual Medley (IM) with an impressive time of 1:53.46. This accomplishment improved her previous Louisville record of 1:53.53, which she had established just two weeks prior at the Texas Showdown in Austin. With this remarkable swim, Gorbenko now ranks third in the NCAA for this season in her event. Notably, the top three finishers in this race are set to compete at the ACC Championships in merely two weeks, along with five out of the top six swimmers.
Current Standings for the Women's 200 IM in the 2025-2026 NCAA Season:
1. Lucy Bell, Stanford – 1:52.50
2. Teagan O’Dell, Cal – 1:53.19
3. Anastasia Gorbenko, Louisville – 1:53.46
4. Campbell Chase, Texas – 1:53.48
5. Aimee Canny, Virginia – 1:54.05
At just 22 years old, the Israeli national has already made a significant mark in the swimming world, joining the Cardinals for the spring semester. While officially listed as a freshman by Louisville, the NCAA database maintained by USA Swimming categorizes her as a sophomore due to her prior experience.
Gorbenko boasts an impressive international resume, having won a silver medal in the 400 IM at the 2024 World Championships, despite that edition being less attended than usual. Additionally, she claimed titles as the World Short Course Champion in both the 50 breaststroke and 100 IM in 2021. Considered one of Israel's finest swimmers, her accolades include seven European championships and a gold medal in the 200 IM at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.
Her arrival at Louisville coincided with a thrilling upset when the Cardinals narrowly defeated the #3 ranked Texas Longhorns in a two-day meet, winning by just a single point.
Gorbenko's record-breaking swim occurred during a midday time trial session, though official results for this time trial have not yet been published.
Additional Noteworthy Performances Across Three Sessions:
* Kentucky senior Fernanda De Goeij delivered an outstanding performance, crushing her personal best in the 200 backstroke by nearly a second, with a time of 1:53.59. Her previous best, recorded during a dual meet in November, was 1:54.40, followed by a significant improvement at the Ohio State Invite. De Goeij currently stands as her team’s top competitor in the 200 backstroke this season, and her latest swim ranks her 12th in the SEC, making her a contender for an NCAA invitation.
About Braden Keith
Braden Keith serves as the Editor-in-Chief and is a co-founder and co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He began his journey in the swimming community by creating The Swimmers' Circle in January 2010 and has since transitioned to SwimSwam to leverage that experience in building a leading platform for the sport of swimming. Beyond his work online, he is deeply passionate about swimming and its community.
