UVA Swimming: Maximus Williamson brings home second national title

UVA Swimming freshman Maximus Williamson won his second individual national championship at the 2026 NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship on Saturday, taking the gold in the 200 IM.

Williamson, who was seeded second in the final, went 1:38.45, out-touching Indiana’s Owen McDonald by .09.

McDonald had led most of the race until Williamson surged in the final 50 freestyle, splitting 23.72 to touch the wall in first place.

Williamson, who won the 200 Free on Thursday, joins Ed Moses (2000) as the only UVA men’s swimmer to win two NCAA individual titles.

The Cavaliers finished in ninth place in the final team standings. This is the eighth time the program has logged a Top 10 finish at the NCAA Championships.

Also on Saturday:

• Thomas Heilman took silver in the 200 Fly, going 1:38.16.
• David King took the bronze in the 200 Backstroke (1:37.43).

UVA Swimming at the 2026 NCAA Championships

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Team standings (Top 10)

1. Texas 445.5
2. Florida 416
3. Indiana 351
4. Arizona State 328
5. Tennessee 272
6. NC State 258.5
7. Cal 231
8. Michigan 220
9. Virginia 192
10. Stanford 136

NCAA champion

• Maximus Williamson: 200 Free, 200 IM

First-team All-American honors 

• Jack Aikins: 200 Back, 800 Free Relay
• Matthew Heilman: 400 Medley Relay
• Thomas Heilman: 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 800 Free Relay, 400 Medley Relay
• David King: 200 Back, 800 Free Relay, 400 Medley Relay
• Maximus Williamson: 200 Free, 200 IM, 800 Free Relay, 400 Medley Relay

Second-team All-American honors

• Jack Aikins: 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay
• Thomas Heilman: 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay
• David King: 200 Back, 400 Free Relay
• Noah Powers: 200 Free Relay
• Maximus Williamson: 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay