2025-26 Swimming Roster
Nel, Olivia
Braden Holloway Reflects on Olympic Experience
Monday, October 28
The Moore Swimming Siblings
Tuesday, January 24
H.C. Kennett Award - Coleman Stewart
Thursday, May 14
2020 Swimming & Diving, Postseason
Sunday, March 08
Olivia Nel
- Class:
- Graduate Student
- Hometown:
- Constantia, South Africa
- High School:
- Herschel Girls
Bio
HONORS:
3x All-American
- 2025: 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay, 800 freestyle relay
ACC Bronze Medalist:
2025: 400 freestyle relay
CSCAA Scholar All-America (2025)
2024-25 (SENIOR)
AT North Carolina
AS A SOPHOMORE (2022-23)
Earned second-team All-America honors as part of the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams • NCAA Championship participant, posting her career-best time in the 100 backstroke • Competed in the sprint freestyle events at the ACC Championship meet • Participated in all six dual meets and the Tennessee Invitational • Finished first in the 50 freestyle and second in the 100 freestyle in the meet with South Carolina • Named to the All-ACC Academic Team.
AS A FRESHMAN (2021-22)
Earned second team All-America honors in the 200 freestyle relay • Competed at the NCAA Championships as a member of the Tar Heels' 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams • Competed in dual meets against Virginia, Duke and Texas • Finished second in the 50 freestyle at Virginia and third in the same events against Texas • Named to the CSCAA Scholar All-America Team and ACC Academic Honor Roll.
PREP/CLUB
Attended Herschel Girls School (Cape Town, South Africa) • Swam at Swimlab Aquatic Academy (2011-21) • Chosen for the South African junior and senior national squads (2016-21) • Represented South Africa at the 2018 Africa Championships in Egypt and the 2017 FINA Junior World Championships in Indianapolis • Selected to the 2020 South Africa FINA Junior World Championship team but was unable to compete due to injury • South Africa Sportswoman of the Year nominee (2019-2021).
PERSONAL
Daughter of Annette and Jeremy Nel • Birthday is July 23 • Her twin sister, Georgia, is also a member of the UNC swimming and diving team • Mother was a swimmer at the University of Texas (1984-88) as well as part of the South Africa National Team • Received multiple academic and extracurricular awards from the Herschel Girls School.
3x All-American
- 2025: 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay, 800 freestyle relay
ACC Bronze Medalist:
2025: 400 freestyle relay
CSCAA Scholar All-America (2025)
2024-25 (SENIOR)
- Qualified for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore
- Competed in the 2025 FISU World University Games representing South Africa. Nel earned four bronze medals, placing third in the Mixed 4x100 freestyle relay, 50m backstroke, 50m freestyle, and 4x100 medley relay
- Reached the podium twice at the NCAA Championships, placing 6th in the 200 medley relay, and 6th in the 200 freestyle relay
- Earned All-American honorable mentions after placing 16th as a member of the 800 freestyle relay
- Qualified for NCAAs in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, and 100 backstroke
- Won bronze at ACCs for her contributions as a member of the 400 ffreestyle relay team
- Top-10 finalist at ACCs, placing 5th in the 100 freestyle, and 9th in the 100 backstroke
- Broke the school record as a member of the Packs 800 freestyle relay team at ACCs
- At the conclusion of the season, Nel holds the 4th fastest 100 freestyle time (47.63), 5th fastest 50 freestyle (21.82), and 10th fastest 100 backstroke time in program history
- Set a Willis R. Casey Aquatic Center pool record as a member of the Packs 200 freestyle relay team (1:26.88) in the Packs dual meet against UNC
- Saw an individual first place finish in the 200 freestyle vs. UNCW
- Made her debut with the Wolfpack at home vs. UNC
AT North Carolina
AS A SOPHOMORE (2022-23)
Earned second-team All-America honors as part of the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams • NCAA Championship participant, posting her career-best time in the 100 backstroke • Competed in the sprint freestyle events at the ACC Championship meet • Participated in all six dual meets and the Tennessee Invitational • Finished first in the 50 freestyle and second in the 100 freestyle in the meet with South Carolina • Named to the All-ACC Academic Team.
AS A FRESHMAN (2021-22)
Earned second team All-America honors in the 200 freestyle relay • Competed at the NCAA Championships as a member of the Tar Heels' 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams • Competed in dual meets against Virginia, Duke and Texas • Finished second in the 50 freestyle at Virginia and third in the same events against Texas • Named to the CSCAA Scholar All-America Team and ACC Academic Honor Roll.
PREP/CLUB
Attended Herschel Girls School (Cape Town, South Africa) • Swam at Swimlab Aquatic Academy (2011-21) • Chosen for the South African junior and senior national squads (2016-21) • Represented South Africa at the 2018 Africa Championships in Egypt and the 2017 FINA Junior World Championships in Indianapolis • Selected to the 2020 South Africa FINA Junior World Championship team but was unable to compete due to injury • South Africa Sportswoman of the Year nominee (2019-2021).
PERSONAL
Daughter of Annette and Jeremy Nel • Birthday is July 23 • Her twin sister, Georgia, is also a member of the UNC swimming and diving team • Mother was a swimmer at the University of Texas (1984-88) as well as part of the South Africa National Team • Received multiple academic and extracurricular awards from the Herschel Girls School.