Canadian Breaststroker Kesa Taivassalo Selects South Carolina

Canadian Breaststroker Kesa Taivassalo Selects South Carolina

NEW COMMIT: The University of South Carolina has secured a new verbal commitment for the 2024-25 season and beyond from Canadian breaststroker Kesa Taivassalo of Markham, Ontario.

She will join Maddie Reynolds and Tori Abruzzo in Columbia as a member of the Gamecocks’ Class of 2029.

Her older brother, Brayden Taivassalo, is a rising sophomore at Texas and won gold in the 200 breast at the 2024 Big 12 Cgampionships.

Regarding her commitment, she said:

“I am super proud and excited to announce my verbal commitment to further both my athletic and academic career at the University of South Carolina! The moment I stepped on campus for my official, the team made me feel so welcome and the coaches were nothing but helpful. Coach Jeff’s vision for the future of the program is something I want to be part of and can’t wait to see what the future holds. This is only the beginning!!”

Taivassalo trains year-round with Markham Aquatic Club and won the 200m breast at the Winter Ontario Championships before going on to take seventh in that event at the Speedo Canadian Open.

In 2023, she placed second in the 200m breast at the Speedo Canadian Championships. Her time of 2:35.17 was the second-fastest among girls aged 15-16 in Canada that year.

In LCM, her best times include:

• 100 breast – 1:12.62
• 200 breast – 2:33.16
• 200 IM – 2:30.92

In SCY, those times convert to:

• 100m breast – 1:03.62
• 200m breast – 2:14.37
• 200 IM – 2:13.08

Taivassalo currently attends Bill Crothers Secondary School.

If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.