Michael Phelps, with 28 Olympic medals, is the most decorated Olympian ever—no one’s matched his legendary status. But now, a fresh talent is making waves: Jere Hribar. At a four-team meet at the Naval Academy, the LSU swimming and diving team delivered an impressive performance inside Lejeune Hall, winning all six dual meets on an action-packed Friday. The LSU men’s team dominated, beating Navy 180-119, Loyola of Maryland 214-85, and George Mason 239-60, with Hribar leading the charge.

Hribar shined in the sprint freestyle events, winning the 50-yard freestyle in 19.45 and the 100-yard freestyle in 42.99. The highlight? His time in the 100 not only secured the win but also broke the pool record previously held by the 23-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps. Could this be the rise of a new swimming star? While Hribar basks in victory, here’s what to know about this rising talent.

Who is Jere Hribar? Where is he from?

Born on January 19, 2004, Jere Hribar stands tall at 6’8 and is a freestyle specialist hailing from the coastal city of Split, Croatia. He’s one of five siblings—Kate, Luce, Mare, and Sime being his squad, while Lovre and Ivana are their parents. And here’s a fun twist about this record-breaking swimmer: he can split an apple with just his hands! Now coming to high school, Hribar attended the School of Design, Graphics, and Sustainable Construction in Split. As the calendar flipped to 2024, he made his way across the ocean to join LSU (Louisiana State University) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Stepping into his freshman season, Hribar planned to major in finance while making waves in the pool. But why LSU? According to Hribar, “I have several reasons but the main reasons are that I will be surrounded by the best athletes in the world and knowing that I should improve a lot because of the incredible athletic culture I am surrounded by.”

He added that working with Coach Bishop and top-notch assistant coaches was another major draw—they’re seasoned experts who’ve trained Olympians and truly know their craft. Plus, he’s excited to earn a world-class education at LSU, embracing the new classes and experiences to come. And despite Hribar’s towering height, basketball isn’t his game—swimming is where he shines. So, as he splashes forward in his journey, here’s everything you need to know about his victories and rising stardom.

The rise and achievements of Jere Hribar

Jere Hribar’s journey took off in high school when he made waves as the junior vice-champion in the 100-free and third in the 50-free. He then grabbed silver at the European Junior Swimming Championships and earned more podium finishes at the Junior World Championships, solidifying his status as one of Europe’s top young swimmers. Fast forward to his freshman season at LSU, and he’s already stacking up wins, which now includes breaking Michael Phelps’ long-standing pool record. Not too shabby for a freshman, right?

At LSU, Hribar was invited to the 2024 NCAA Championships, showing off his sprinting skills in the 50-free and 100-free, posting some of the fastest times in LSU history. He’s now just behind U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist Brooks Curry. Hribar also anchored the 200-medley relay at the SEC Championships, achieving the team’s first A cut since 2016. His stacked resume continues as his season opener in Utah saw him dominate the 50-free and come close in the 100-free, setting the tone for what’s been an electric year.

All season long, Hribar has been on fire. In a tri-meet against FSU and Alabama, he claimed the 50-free and placed second in the 100-free. And if that wasn’t enough, he then grabbed wins against Texas A&M and continued his streak with top finishes at Tennessee. Hribar’s impressive showing at the 2023 SEC Championships proves he’s just getting started. Oh, and let’s not overlook this! Back in April, he secured his spot in the 50-meter freestyle at the 2024 Speedo Canadian Swimming Open, officially booking his ticket to the 2024 Olympics in Paris. “This was an outstanding accomplishment for Jere, and we are proud of everything he has achieved this season,” said Bishop, LSU’s head coach. What a milestone!