NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Jim Henry, Robert J.H. Kiphuth Coach of Men's & Women's Swimming and Diving has announced that Caroline Riggs will serve as captain for the Bulldogs next season.
 
"Caroline Riggs exemplifies true leadership by inspiring trust, fostering unity, and leading by example, perfectly embodying the spirit of the team," said Henry.
 
Riggs is coming off a standout junior campaign, highlighted by her qualification for the NCAA Championships in the 1650 freestyle after a strong fourth-place finish (16:15.74) at the Ivy League Championships. She became the first Yale swimmer to qualify for the NCAA Women's Swimming & Diving Championships since Iszac Henig in 2022. On the national stage, Riggs delivered an impressive performance, finishing 28th with a time of 16:19.33. The Morgantown, West Virginia native is also a 2024 Olympic Trials qualifier in the 1500m freestyle, 400 IM, and 200 breaststroke. She holds the school record in the 400 IM, placed fifth in the 5K at the 2026 Open Water Nationals, and finished third in the 1500m freestyle at the 2025 U.S. Nationals.
 
"I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to step into the role of captaincy this fall," said Riggs. Born into a family of collegiate swimmers and swim coaches, this sport is in my blood, and leading this team means the world to me. Swimming has given me so much, and now is my chance to give back to my teammates, my coaches, and this university. My commitment to this group of exceptional women will be built on trust, dedication, confidence, grit, and the moments we share together, in and out of the pool. Yale Swimming & Diving has a long and storied history of excellence, and together we will continue to strengthen our place at the Ivy and National level. We are young, talented, and hungry, and I cannot wait to watch this group grow into our full potential during the 2026-2027 season. I am grateful for the trust and unwavering support of my teammates. It is an honor and a privilege."
 
Outside the water, Riggs is a Cognitive Science major, Yale College (2025), and a Swensen Scholars Award recipient, as well as a three-time CSCAA Scholar All-American. Beyond academics, she serves as a Yale Athlete to Athlete mentor, SAAC representative, YWSD Green Team Certification liaison, and a research assistant at the Yale School of Management.