LINCOLN, Neb. – After a memorable summer in the pool, Aberdeen native Gena Jorgenson has been named to the USA National Swim Team.
Jorgenson ended up qualifying for the World University Games in Berlin, Germany this past summer. She competed in the 800-meter and 1,500-meter races.
“They select team USA as individuals who have the top six fastest times in each event for 2025, this past summer season,” Jorgenson said. “I have a top six time in the U.S. in both the mile and 800. Those are just the events that got me onto the team.”
While there is a possibility she could swim competitively for Team USA against international competition, it’s more of a recognition like making an All-America team in other sports.
“I can’t really go to any of them during the college season,” Jorgenson said. “It is kind of just a recognition of your progress through the season. … I am going to Colorado Springs this upcoming weekend to do national team onboarding. It’s a practice with the national team and you just kind of do some fitness testing there.”
Jorgenson is a senior at the University of Nebraska, where she is an All-American and a record holder in multiple events.
Jorgenson said competing in the World University Games was a fun experience. While the location was foreign, much of the competition was familiar.
“It was super fun. A great experience,” Jorgenson said. “I met a whole bunch of people. … A lot of the people who were at the meet, I have actually competed against because they swim in the U.S. for school.”
Jorgenson said a lot of the members who will compete for the United States in the next Olympic Games are currently on the USA National Swim Team.
While the former member of the Aberdeen Swim Club would love to compete in the next Olympic Games, she noted that the path in her two events features the best swimmers in the world.
“You have Katie Ledecky who holds the world records in every distance event,” Jorgenson said, “and then you have another girl who’s pretty close to her.”
Jorgenson actually swam in the same heat as those two world-renown swimmers.
“It’s been fun competing against them. … I’m super excited to just be able to say I was in the same heat as them,” Jorgenson said.
For now, Jorgenson will cap off a memorable career with the Huskers this season and then see what transpires after that.
“Just trying to improve my times, I think that’s my main goal,” Jorgenson said. “Finding ways to get faster is kind of what I’m focusing on this season.”
