Kyra Rabess to Represent Cayman Islands at World Aquatics Championships

GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado sophomore swimmer Kyra Rabess will take her talents to the international stage, representing the Cayman Islands at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Rabess will compete in the 400 freestyle and 800 freestyle, marking a significant milestone in her swimming career.

Rabess kicks off her events with the 400 freestyle heats on Dec. 10 at 1 a.m. MST, followed by the finals at 9:30 a.m. MST the same day. The 800 freestyle heat time trials will take place on Dec. 11 at 1 a.m. MST, with the final time trials set for 9:30 a.m. MST.

A native of George Town, Cayman Islands, Rabess has established herself as a top performer at Northern Colorado and beyond. Her accomplishments include:

2023-24 WAC Freshman of the Year
UNC Newcomer of the Year
National record holder in the 400-, 800- and 1500-meter long course meters (LCM) and short course meters (SCM) events.

In her freshman season, Rabess delivered stellar performances at the 2023-24 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championships, earning silver medals in the 200 freestyle and 1650 freestyle, and a fourth-place finish in the 500 freestyle. She also set team records in the 500 freestyle (4:49.79) and 1650 freestyle (16:36.52). On the international stage, she competed at the 2023 Pan American Games, where she placed 11th in the 400 freestyle finals with a time of 4:28.49.

Rabess expressed her excitement for the opportunity: "I've always wanted to represent my country at Worlds, so hearing that I was selected was amazing. This is the highest level I've competed at so far in my career, and I'm thrilled to take on this challenge."

Head coach Lisa Ebeling praised Rabess' dedication: "I'm incredibly proud of Kyra for making it to this level of competition. She is one of the most consistent, hardest-working athletes I've had the opportunity to coach, and it's so fun to see that work ethic pay off at such a high level. Kyra is a fierce competitor, and she will feel right at home racing with some of the best swimmers in the world in Budapest."

Rabess is eager to make the most of her opportunity: "This competition is a great learning experience. My ultimate dream is to represent my country on the Olympic stage, and I'm grateful for everyone who has supported me on this journey."

UNC and fans around the globe will be cheering Rabess on as she competes in Budapest.

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