swimmer19 said:
Estonian breaststroker Egle Salu has committed to Cal:
Cal breaststroke is in very good hands. She'll have 3 years of training with the incoming freshmen duo of Elle Scott (top US junior breaststroker) and Silje Slyngstadli (Norwegian elite breaststroker), and 4 years training with 2026 classmate Halle West (Canadian junior team breaststroker).
30.9/1:09.3 LCM Breaststroker Egle Salu Announces Commitment To Cal For Fall 2026
Egle Salu of Rakvere, Estonia, has committed to swim and study at Cal, beginning in the 20262027 school year.
The Estonian most recently competed at the European Junior Championships in July, where she walked away with silver in the 50 breast. She clocked 31.19 in that final after logging 30.98 in prelims, which just missed her lifetime best of 30.97 from the Akvile Lietuvos Plaukimo Cempionatas meet in April.
If she transitions smoothly, she's in position to challenge for the team's best sprint breaststroker, especially for the 50 breast leg of the 200 medley relay.
Salu will join a breaststroke group that is heavily rebuilding with two top-tier commits just arriving on campus. The #12-ranked recruit in the high school class of 2025, Elle Scott, had the fastest 100 breast time in the class at 58.56. This will make her the only swimmer on the Cal team under 59 seconds in the event, and puts her just outside of 'A' final scoring position at NCAAs, coming in at 13th overall with 58.30 placing 8th.
Scott's 200 breast of 2:08.62 would have been first alternate last year, less than a tenth outside of finals scoring position.
The Golden Bears also now have Norwegian Worlds qualifier Silje Slyngstadli. She was 29th in the 100 breast at the World Championships in Singapore and her best time of 1:07.53 converts to 59.83, which is about three tenths over the cutline.
Cal had one individual breaststroke scorer last year in rising senior Abigail Herscu. Her 2:08.47 in the 200 breast garnered her 8th at NCAAs. She also swam the 100 breast, finishing 28th with a new career best of 59.97.
Salu joins the Golden Bears' class of 2030 with Isabel Wolk, Ava DeAnda, Kelsey Zhang, Madeline Kohel, and Halle West.