Golden Boost: Cal Women’s Swim Team Lands Norwegian Record-Setter Silje Slyngstadli for 2025-26 Season…Read More…
The California Golden Bears just made a splash on the international recruiting scene.
In a move that’s already making waves in collegiate swimming circles, the University of California, Berkeley women’s swim team has officially secured the commitment of Silje Slyngstadli, Norway’s reigning national record-holder in the 100 and 200-meter breaststroke. The Bergen native is set to join the Golden Bears for the 2025-26 NCAA season, bringing Olympic pedigree, European championship experience, and serious momentum to a program looking to reassert its dominance in the Pac-12 and beyond.
Slyngstadli, 20, broke onto the international scene in 2023 and hasn’t looked back since. At the Norwegian National Championships earlier this year, she shattered her own national records in both the 100m (1:06.44) and 200m breaststroke (2:23.91), times that place her comfortably among the world’s top-ranked swimmers. With her commitment to Cal, Slyngstadli becomes one of the most high-profile international recruits in recent NCAA history.
“I’ve followed Cal Swimming for years, and it’s always been a dream of mine to train and compete in such a legendary program,” Slyngstadli said in a video announcement posted to her Instagram on Friday. “The coaching, the facilities, the team spirit – it’s everything I want to be a part of. I’m beyond excited to take this next step in my journey in Berkeley.”
A Major Catch for the Golden Bears
For head coach Teri McKeever and the Cal coaching staff, Slyngstadli’s commitment is more than a recruiting win – it’s a transformational addition to a squad already brimming with talent. The Golden Bears have consistently produced NCAA champions and Olympic medalists, but the addition of a world-class breaststroker could provide the final piece to a national championship puzzle.
“Silje is a fierce competitor, an incredibly hard worker, and above all, a wonderful teammate,” Coach McKeever said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to welcome her to Berkeley. Her experience at the highest levels of international competition will bring a new edge to our training environment, and I know she’s going to make a huge impact, both in and out of the pool.”
With top breaststroker Ema Rajic having graduated in 2024, the Golden Bears had a notable gap in their medley relay lineup. Slyngstadli’s arrival will likely anchor Cal’s 400 medley relay, a key event in NCAA championship scoring. Her personal bests translate competitively to the yards format, suggesting she could be an NCAA finalist from day one.
From Bergen to Berkeley
Slyngstadli has been swimming for Bergensvømmerne, one of Norway’s premier swim clubs, since she was a child. Her rise through the age-group ranks was meteoric, culminating in a breakout performance at the 2023 European Short Course Championships, where she narrowly missed the podium in the 200m breaststroke. Since then, she has been a staple of the Norwegian national team and represented her country at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she placed 13th in the 100m breaststroke semifinals.
“Coming to the U.S. for college swimming was always part of the plan,” Slyngstadli said. “But finding the right program, the right people, and the right balance between academics and sport was really important to me. After visiting Cal and meeting the team, I knew it was the perfect fit.”
Slyngstadli plans to major in Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley, with aspirations of pursuing sports medicine after her swimming career. She emphasized Cal’s academic prestige as a major draw, saying, “I want to challenge myself both in the classroom and in the pool. At Cal, I can do both.”
International Talent, NCAA Impact
Cal’s acquisition of Slyngstadli is also a reflection of a growing trend in collegiate swimming: top international athletes choosing the NCAA as a developmental platform ahead of global competitions like the Olympics and World Championships. With NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities expanding and training resources rivaling those of national federations, U.S. college swimming is more attractive than ever.
“She’s not just a great swimmer – she’s a leader,” said Espen Stokkeland, head coach of the Norwegian national team. “We’re excited to see how her time in the NCAA system shapes her growth. Cal is getting a remarkable athlete, and we’re confident she’ll continue to represent Norway with pride.”
Slyngstadli is expected to make her NCAA debut at Cal’s season opener in October 2025. Fans are already buzzing about the potential relay combinations and individual matchups, particularly against conference rivals Stanford and USC.
Looking Ahead
With the 2025-26 NCAA season looming and the 2026 European Championships in the distance, Slyngstadli is entering a critical phase of her career – one that Cal fans hope will be marked by broken records, podium finishes, and perhaps even NCAA titles.
“This is just the beginning,” Slyngstadli said. “I can’t wait to put on that Cal cap and race for the Bears.”
As Cal continues to build for the future, the addition of a Norwegian powerhouse like Slyngstadli not only strengthens their roster but signals their intent: the Golden Bears aren’t just aiming to compete – they’re aiming to conquer.
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