2025-26 Men's Swimming and Diving Roster

Deniel Nankov

  • Class Junior
  • Hometown Varna, Bulgaria
  • High School Varna
  • Opendorse deniel-nankov

Biography

2024-25:
  • Won the 100 free (44.84) against Cornell
  • Was part of the 200 medley relay quartet that broke the team record and won gold in time of 1:24.00 on the opening night of the Ivy League Championships
  • Was part of the 800 free relay that won silver in a team record time of 6:13.98 on the opening night of the Ivy League Championships
  • Won silver in the 100 free (42.52) in a personal-best and NCAA b cut time at the Ivy League Championships
  • Was part of the 400 free relay that won gold in a team record time of 2:48.74 at the Ivy League Championships
  • Was part of the 200 free relay quartet that won gold in a team, pool, and NCAA A standard time of 1:16.48 at the Ivy League Championships
  • Was part of the 400 medley relay that finished in a team record time of 3:05.73 at the NCAA Championships
  • First Team All-Ivy Honoree in the 200 free relay
  • First Team All-Ivy Honoree in the 400 free relay
  • First Team All-Ivy Honoree in the 200 medley relay
  • Second Team All-Ivy Honoree in the 100 free
  • Second Team All-Ivy Honoree in the 800 free relay
  • Qualified to compete in the 200, 400, 800 free relays; 400 medley relay at NCAA Championships

Before Yale: Five-time national champion in 50 and 100 freestyle… Five-time national team champion… Captain of Black Sea swimming team for three years… Four-time national record holder in 50 and 100 freestyle… Four-time participant in European and World championships.
 
Personal: Served on Board of Directors of Black Sea swimming team.
 
Why Yale? “Yale is the perfect place for combining a high academic curriculum and seeking high-level sports achievements.  The outstanding coaching staff is dedicated to transmitting and perfected even the smallest and most precise details in swimming disciplines. Once I stepped on campus the first people who reached out to me were my teammates. Their warm welcoming, kindness and loyalty made Yale University my new home.”

Historical Player Information

  • 2023-24First Year

    Sprint Free
  • 2024-25Sophomore

    Sprint Free
  • 2025-26Junior

    Sprint Free