The Gopher men's swimming and diving team has a large presence at the World University Games being held this week in Belgrade, Serbia. Five Gopher athletes are competing for their native countries. Through three days of swimming and diving competition, sophomore Karl Burdis has posted the top finish individually with a seventh-place showing in the 100 backstroke.

Burdis, competing for Ireland, improved his time in each session of the 100-meter backstroke, eventually taking a seventh-place finish in a career-best time if 55.02. He was eighth after the semis with a time of 55.03 and fourth after the prelims in 55.27. Burdis also swam the 50 backstroke on Tuesday, finishing 10th overall in 25.63.

Senior Ray Betuzzi, competing for Canada, broke the school long course record in the 200-meter freestyle with a time of 1:49.68 to finish 11th. He also swam a better time in each session, improving from a prelims time of 1:50.12.

Junior Ivan Gutesa placed 34th in the 100 breaststroke in a career-best time of 1:03.90 for his native Serbia. Junior Nadav Kochavi also finished 44th in the 50-meter butterfly for Israel.

In diving action, freshman Kristoffer Jorgensen has competed in the 1 and 3-meter diving events for Norway. He placed 16th on the 1-meter with a score of 270.95 and 17th on the 3-meter with a tally of 255.90.

The swimming and diving events continue through Saturday, July 11.