UNC senior Hellen Moffitt became the first Tar Heel swimmer to win a gold medal at the World University Games since 2013 with a stunning performance in the 100-meter butterfly on Thursday night.

Moffitt finished second in both her preliminary race and the semifinal, but managed to surge past her competition in the last 10 meters of Thursday’s final–which allowed her to bring home gold for the United States.

This accomplishment comes not long after the Alexandria, Virginia native placed second in the 100-meter butterfly for UNC during last season’s NCAA Championships.

“We are so proud of Hellen,” UNC head coach Rich DeSelm said afterward. “She has, for a long time, had a passion to represent the USA in international competition and certainly did in fine fashion today.”

She becomes the second Tar Heel swimmer to earn a medal in this year’s World University Games–the bi-annual competition which is being held this year in Chinese Taipei.

Caroline Baldwin previously won a bronze medal earlier in the week as part of the 400-meter relay team.

 

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

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