Rising Star from Serbia Joins Princeton’s Next Wave — but Here’s What Makes It Even More Impressive
For many young swimmers, competing at the collegiate level is a dream shaped by dedication, countless hours in the pool, and unwavering support from coaches and family. Fitter and Faster Swim Camps, proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel, celebrates these athletes and the long journeys that lead to such commitments.
This week, Nemanja Maksic, a name increasingly recognized in European swimming circles, announced his verbal commitment to begin the admission process at Princeton University for the 2027–28 academic year. The talented swimmer from Belgrade, Serbia, shared his excitement with SwimSwam:
“I chose Princeton because of its outstanding academics, incredible coaching staff, and a team environment that feels like family.”
A Serbian Sensation Building Records Early
Training with the club PK Novi Sad, Maksic has built a reputation as a sprint butterfly specialist with remarkable consistency. In fact, he holds every Serbian national age group record in the 50-meter butterfly—from age 10 through 18. That’s dominance across nearly a decade.
In the summer of 2025, Maksic’s talent reached new heights when he earned bronze in the 50 fly at the European Junior Swimming Championships in Šamorín, Slovakia. His performance there wasn’t just medal-worthy—it broke Serbia’s 17–18 national record with a blazing 23.78.
But that’s not all. Maksic continued his impressive form in international meets, setting new personal bests at major competitions: 51.15 in the 100 free and 54.10 in the 100 fly at the Golden Bear meet in Zagreb, followed by a 23.51 in the 50 free at Stockholm’s Malmsten Swim Open. Each race demonstrated not only speed but consistency against world-class peers.
Strengthening Princeton’s Class of 2031
Maksic joins an already promising Princeton recruiting class for 2031, which includes Jonny Palamar, Cade Vieler, Jack Cunningham, Jose Rodriguez, Kannen Crossland, and diver Max Van Stone. His addition strengthens Princeton’s growing sprint program and injects new depth into their butterfly lineup.
To put it in perspective, his converted 100 fly time would have placed him squarely in the ‘B’ final at the 2025 Ivy League Men’s Championships, where it took 46.80 to make the top eight. Though just shy of a finals spot in the 50 and 100 free (which required 20.12 and 44.19, respectively), Maksic’s steady progression signals he could soon challenge for those marks.
A Fast and Fierce Team Environment
Currently, three Princeton swimmers have already broken the 47-second barrier in the 100 fly: Logan Noguchi (46.52), Alex Townsend (46.84), and Conor McKenna (46.86). By the time Maksic arrives, he’ll join what’s shaping up to be one of the most dynamic butterfly squads in the Ivy League, bolstered by 2026 recruits Yury Kuzmenko (19.55/43.34 free, 47.18 fly), Isaiah Tucker (46.61/1:46.74 fly), Michael Geh (44.49 free/47.90 fly), and Ben Cotroneo (23.09/49.24 LCM free) from Australia.
With this level of collective talent, Princeton could very well redefine what Ivy League sprinting looks like.
Maksic’s Best Converted Times (LCM to Yards)
- 50 fly – 23.78 (20.79)
- 100 fly – 54.10 (47.31)
- 100 free – 51.15 (44.23)
- 50 free – 23.51 (20.31)
About Ivy League Verbal Commitments
Here’s something many people miss: a verbal commitment in the Ivy League isn’t an official offer of admission. Only the university’s Admission Office can extend that. Coaches can express their intent to support an athlete’s application, but actual admission decisions rest solely with the school. Also, no “Likely Letters” are issued before October 1 of a recruit’s senior year, and even then, such letters indicate likelihood—not guarantee—of admission.
Want to Share Your Commitment?
If you’ve made your own college commitment, SwimSwam welcomes submissions. Email your news—along with a high-quality, landscape photo and a personal quote—to [email protected].
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About the Author – Anne Lepesant
Anne Lepesant, a Princeton graduate and former All-Ivy tennis player, brings both competitive and academic insight to her coverage of collegiate swimming. A mother of four daughters—all collegiate swimmers—Anne combines firsthand athletic experience with a rich professional background, including an MBA from INSEAD and years in international finance.
But here’s what could spark debate: Does Princeton’s growing focus on international recruitment signal a shift in Ivy League athletics toward more global competitiveness—and will that change the dynamic for American swimmers? What do you think—should schools look further abroad for top talent, or focus on developing domestic athletes first? Share your thoughts in the comments!
