Israeli Olympians Martin Kartavi, Adam Maraana To Join Tar Heels This Fall
NEW COMMITS: A pair of Israeli Olympians who will compete in Paris this summer, Martin Kartavi and Adam Maraana, have announced their commitments to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They will arrive on campus this fall after competing at the Olympic Games.
Both swimmers will join Sean Setzer, PJ Foy, Eddie Jin and Nate Hohm in Chapel Hill as a member of the Tar Heels’ Class of 2028.
Martin Kartavi
His best times include: (LCM/SCY conversion):
- 50 free – 21.90 (19.00)
- 100 free – 49.99 (43.59)
- 50 fly – 23.85 (20.85)
- 100 fly – 54.28 (47.63)
Kartavi punched his ticket to the Paris Olympics with a personal-best 50m free time of 21.90 back in January, just under the Olympic ‘A’ cut of 21.96.
He most recently competed at the European Aquatics Championships where he placed 12th in the 50m free. He earned bronze in the 50m free at the European Junior Championships in both 2021 and 2022.
Adam Maraana
His best times include: (CCM/SCY conversion):
- 50 back – 24.47 (22.04)
- 100 back – 51.71 (46.58)
- 200 back – 1:55.52 (1:44.07)
Maraana punched his ticket to Paris at the Israeli Olympic Trials in June in the 100m back with a time of 53.60, under the Olympic cut by .14. His time matched the Israeli national record first set in 2017.
Not only is Maraana the first Arab-Israel swimmer to represent Israel at the Olympic Games, but he’s also the first Arab-Israeli athlete to do so in any sport since 1976.
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