University of Iowa Athletics
Back/Free/Fly

Kennedy Gilbertson

Class Fifth Year
Hometown Plover, Wis.
High School Stevens Point Area Senior
Kennedy Gilbertson - Women's Swim & Dive - University of Iowa Athletics

2022-23 — Set school record in 100 back at Purdue (53.19)… posted NCAA “B” qualifying standards in 50 free (22.75) and 100 back (53.19)… also led team in 50 free (22.75)and 200 back (1:57.70), and posted second-best times in 100 free (50.31) and 100 fly (55.05)… swam lead legs on team-leading 200-free (1:31.49), 400-free (3:20.08), 200-medley (1:40.27), and 400-medley relays (3:39.13)… the 50 free time ranks fourth, the 100 free time ranks eighth, the 200-free relay ranks sixth, the 400-free relay ranks fifth, the 200-medley relay ranks eighth, and the 400-medley relay ranks eighth all-time at Iowa… swam lead legs on 200-free (1:32.16), 400-free (3:23.77), 200-medley (1:40.79) and 400-medley relays (3:40.18) that placed 11th, 12th, 11th, and 10th, respectively, at B1G Championships… placed 23rd in 200 back at B1G Championships… won six individual events (four in 100 back, one in 50 free, one in 100 free) and swam on all nine winning relays (four in 400-free, three in 200-medley, one in 200-free and one in 400 medley… letterwinner.

2021-22 — Swam team-leading times in 50 free (23.32), 100 free (51.28), 100 back (55.30), 200 back (2:01.45) and 100 fly (55.93)… swam team’s second-fastest 1:52.88 in the 200 free… member of team-leading 200-free (1:33.82), 400-free (3:27.86), 200-medley (1:43.59), and 400-medley (3:45.85) relay teams… won four event titles during the regular season.

2020-21 — Posted an NCAA “B” qualifying standard in the 100 back with a team-leading and collegiate-best time of 53.92 seconds… ranked second on team in 50 free (23.38) and had a season-best in 200 back (2:00.07)… member of the team-leading 200-free (1:31.10) and 800-free (7:15.89) relays… the 200-free relay time ranks third and the 800-free relay time ranks ninth all-time at Iowa… scored in three events at the B1G Championships… member of the eighth-place 200-free relay (1:31.1 and ninth-place 800-free relay (7:15.89)… also finished 18th in 100 back (53.92) at B1G meet.

2019-20 — Member of the team-leading 200-free (1:31.09), 400-free (3:19.41), and 200-medley (1:39.94) relays… those times rank second, third, and fifth, respectively, all-time at Iowa… recorded season bests and finished third on the team in the 50 free (23.16), fifth in 200 free (1:50.97), fourth in 100 back (54.88), third in 200 back (1:57.58), and third in 100 fly (55.52)… the 200 back time ranks seventh all-time at Iowa… scored in four events at the B1G Championships, placing ninth in the 200-medley (1:39.94) and 200-free (1:31.09) relays, 10th in 400-free relay (3:20.35), and 23rd in 200 back (1:58.42)… that 400-free relay time ranks eighth all-time at Iowa.

High School — All-state selection as a senior in the 100 back… four-time all-conference selection, earning two honors as a junior (100 back, 200 IM) and two as a senior (100 back, 100 free)… team MVP as a sophomore… school record holder in the 100 back (55.49)… conference record holder in 100 back (56.69)… nominated for “Athlete of the Year” from Sports Awards USA Today Media of Wisconsin… placed third in the state in the 100 back (55.50) in 2018, sixth in 100 back (56.99) in 2017, and 23rd in 100 back in 2016… five-time conference champion, winning the 100 back from 2016-18, 200 IM in 2017 and 100 free in 2018… helped team to three conference titles and a fifth place team finish in 2017… won the 100-meter back at the 2019 USA state Wisconsin meet (1:03.66)… posted top 14 finishes at 2019 Minnesota Speedo Sectionals, placing 11th in 100-meter back (1:03.93), 12th in 100-meter fly (1:02.47), and 14th in 200-meter back (2:21.47)… top times are: 54.35 (100 back), 2:02.54 (200 fly), 1:57.58 (200 back), 50.51 (100 free), and 23.13 (50 free)… high school coaches were Daylyn Hopp and Courtney McMurrain.

Personal — Born March 26, 2001, in Wisconsin Rapids… daughter of Chad Gilbertson… leadership studies major.

Gilbertson’s Collegiate Bests

Event Time Meet Date
50 Free 22.75 at Northwestern 1/27/23
100 Free 50.31 at Northwestern 1/28/23
200 Free 1:50.97 at Shamrock Invitational 1/25/20
100 Back 53.19 at Purdue 2/25/23
200 Back 1:57.58 Big Ten Championships 2/21/20
100 Fly 55.05 at Hawkeye Invitational 12/2/22
200 IM 2:07.98 vs. Notre Dame/Illinois 1/11/20