NEW COMMIT: UCLA has been forming an incredible recruiting class for the fall of 2022, and their latest verbal commitment is a big one: Canadian National Junior teamer Katrina Bellio of Mississauga, Ontario.
She will join Rosie Murphy, Ava Lachey, Fay Lustria and Courtney Seljeseth as a member of the Bruins’ Class of 2026.
She told Swimming World:
“I’m so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my athletic and academic career at UCLA!! From the first time I talked with the coaching staff, I knew this was the place I wanted to be. I can’t thank my coaches, family and friends enough for helping me make this decision. GO BRUINS???”
Bellio, who trains year-round with Etobicoke Swimming, will arrive in Los Angeles with loads of international experience. At the 7th FINA World Junior Championships in 2019, she placed eighth in the 200m free, 14th in the 1500m free, and 15th in the 800m free. She also swam on Team Canada’s bronze-medal 4x200m free relay.
She had a stellar showing at the Canadian Swimming Trials in April 2019, earning the Female High Point Winner award. There, Bellio raced to fourth in both the 800m and 1500m free while also placing seventh in the 400m IM and 400m free and 14th in the 200m free.
In LCM, her best times include:
- 200m free – 2:00.25
- 400m free – 4:15.74
- 800m free – 8:41.77
- 1500m free – 16:39.54
- 400m IM – 4:46.69
- 200m fly – 2:16.94
In SCY, those times convert to:
- 200 free – 1:46.30
- 500 free – 4:44.14
- 1000 free – 9:48.98
- 1650 free – 16:24.54
- 400 IM – 4:11.35
- 200 fly – 2:02.01
She last competed at the Ontario Winter Youth Junior Championships back in March, grabbing three gold medals and six new best times. Bellio won the 400m free at the Ontario Junior International meet last December and was a seven-time champion at Etobicoke Age Group Championships in November 2019.
Bellio will undoubtedly make an immediate impact when she suits up for the Bruins at the start of the 2022-23 season. Her best times (converted to yards) would’ve scored in the A-final of the 400 IM, B-final of the 200/500 free, and scored top-12 in the mile at the 2020 Pac-12 Championships where UCLA finished fourth overall. She also would’ve ranked No. 1 on their lineup in the 500/1000/1650 as well as the 400 IM last season.
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.
