University of Northern Iowa Athletics
FISU America Games: Panther alum Larsen wins four medals in Peru
7/26/2026 10:21:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Former UNI swimmer and current coach wins two gold, one silver and one bronze medal in Lima.
LIMA, Peru --- Former UNI swimmer Faith Larsen closed out the opening weekend of the 2026 FISU America Games with an impressive four-medal performance, capturing gold medals in two relays, as well as one silver and one bronze in two individual events in her international competition debut.
The FISU America Games matches current and recent college graduates against one another in an Olympic-style event featuring athletes from countries in the Americas. Larsen was among 44 swimmers from 17 different colleges and universities to represent Team USA in Peru.
Larsen, a 2025 UNI graduate who is currently serving as an assistant coach for Northern Iowa, won four Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) individual titles during her Panther career, including three consecutive conference championships in the 50-yard freestyle. She currently holds program records in the 50-yard freestyle, as well as the 200 and 400-yard freestyle relays.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Larsen kicked off her first international meet by winning gold on Friday in the mixed 400-meter freestyle relay with a winning time of 3:33.52 and a second leg split of 57.03 seconds. On Saturday, the Eden Prairie, Minnesota native earned silver in the women's 50-meter freestyle, clocking a time of 26.02 seconds, improving by 0.01 of a second from her preliminary heat time.
In Sunday's action, Larsen captured her second gold medal of the weekend, swimming the second leg of the women's 400-meter freestyle relay with a split of 30.12 seconds and a final time of 3:47.26. Closing out the weekend, Larsen would earn her fourth medal of the meet in the 50-meter butterfly, swimming a final time of 27.64 to finish third.
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UP NEXT
UNI track and field's Colin Lillie (10,000 meters) and former Panther Amelia Hill (3,000-meter steeplechase) will compete at the FISU America Games on Saturday, Aug. 1 at Villa Deportiva Nacional in Lima.
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UNI swimming and diving action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Swimming and Diving), X (@uniswimdive) and on Instagram (@uniswimdive). Schedules and rosters, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
