Story courtesy of Bowling Green's Athletic Communications Department

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- BGSU swimmer Karina Solera will represent her home country of Costa Rica in the upcoming World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary against some of the top swimmers in the world, including Olympians. She will be competing in the 200m butterfly on Thursday, December 12 at 3:40 a.m. EST and the 100m butterfly on Friday, December 13 at 4:04 a.m. EST.

The competition is being held at Budapest's Duna Arena on the banks of the Danube River in the heart of Hungary's capital city. The events will take place in a 25-meter pool, also known as a short course meter pool.

Solera will swim in Heat 3 (Lane 9) in the 200m butterfly competition and will be in Heat 2 (Lane 7) in the 100m butterfly event.

A native of San Jose, Costa Rica, Solera attended Asoc Belemita de Natación, a swimming academy in Heredia just outside San Jose. There, she blossomed as not only one of the academy's top performers but one of the best in Costa Rica.

In June 2024, Solera participated in the Central American and Caribbean Swimming Confederation Championships in Monterrey, Mexico. At the Championships, she swam a 1:02.07 time in the 100m butterfly, which is the best time in Costa Rica, and a 2:18.23 mark in the 200m butterfly, which is the country's second-fastest time behind Alondra Ortiz who swims at the University of Houston.

As a result of having a top-two time in the country while also meeting the qualifying standards, Solera was able to earn a spot in the World Aquatics Swimming Championships in both events.

"I am extremely proud of Karina for qualifying to compete in this prestigious world championship," BGSU head coach Tanner Barton said. "She is a shining example of how our BGSU program is helping athletes obtain NCAA and international success."

For more information about the World Aquatics Swimming Championships, please see the link here.