Denis Loktev

Denis Loktev stands on the blocks at the Olympics

Denis Loktev and Arthur Albiero pose at the Olympic pool

The men's 800 free relay team shows off their gold medals on the podium

Photo by: Karl L. Moore

Denis Loktev and Arthur Albiero pose in Fukuoka Japan at World Championships

The 800 Free Relay team poses on the podium with their silver medals

The men's 800 free relay team huddles before the race

Photo by: Mooreshots LLC

The men's 800 free relay team poses with silver medals

Photo by: Mooreshots LLC

Position:
Free
Weight:
null
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Ashdod, Israel

2024-25: At Israel’s World Championship Trials, Denis placed third in the 100M freestyle (49.00) and third in the 200M freestyle. At the NCAA Championships in Federal Way, Washington, Loktev split 1:32.16 as part of the 800 free relay team that finished 15^th. At the ACC Championships, he finished 16^th in the 200 freestyle (1:34.20) and was the leadoff in the 800 Free Relay, splitting 1:33.39 for fourth place. He made the finals of the 500 freestyle, stopping the clock at 4:17.49 and was 28^th in the 200 fly with a time of 1:44.95. In the dual meet season, he placed third in the 200 free versus Tennessee with a time of 1:34.85. At the Ohio State Invitational, he placed fourth in the 200 free (1:33.01) and fifth in the 500 freestyle. He won the 200 free at Missouri with a time of 1:34.09. Against rival Kentucky, he was second in the 200 free with a time of 1:34.65 and fourth in the 500 free, clocking in at 4:25.88. Versus Indiana, he was second in the 200 free, touching in 1:34.31 and was fourth in the 500 free with a time of 4:24.78.

2023-24: Denis represented his country of Israel at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. At the NCAA Championships in Indianapolis, he earned All-American honors as a member of 800 free relay (6:08.32). He finished 27^th in the 200 freestyle. At the ACC Championships in Greensboro, he scored 49 points. He was 11^th in the finals of the 500 freestyle and was ninth in the 20 free (1:33.53). he was 14^th in the 200 fly. He helped the Cards win gold in the 800 free relay with a time of 6:09.87. He was on the 400 free relay team that touched seventh with a 2:50.38. Against Tennessee, he won the 200M freestyle (1:48.96) and was on the second place on the 400M free relay (3:20.54). Against Missouri, he was third in the 200 free (1:36.40) and fifth in the 100 free (44.92) and was on the winning 400 free relay (2:53.12). Against rival Kentucky, he won the 200 free (1:34.67) and was second in the 100 free (43.72) and was on the winning 400 free relay (2:52.80).

2022-23: Denis qualified for the 2023 World Championships in the 200M freestyle for Israel and set the national record in the event with a 1:46.17. At the NCAA Championship in Minneapolis, he was an alternate on the relay and swam the second leg of the 800 Free Relay, splitting 1:33.07 as the Cards put up a 6:12.25. At the ACC Championships, he scored 45 points . He won silver as part of the 800 Free Relay team with a 6:11.26 -- the third fastest time in school history. He made the B-final in the 500 free with a 14^th place time of 4:20.18. He was third in the B-final of the 200 free with a 1:33.48 to place 11^th overall. He made the B-final of the 200 fly with an 11^th place finish of 1:44.20. During the dual meet season, he was third in the 200 free versus Tennessee, and fourth at Notre Dame. At the Purdue Invitational, he won the 200 free with a 1:34.38 and was third in the 500 free and the 200 fly as well as helping the Cards to a second place in the 400 Free Relay. Against Missouri, he was third in the 200 free and third versus Indiana and fourth against Kentucky. He won the 200 fly against Cincinnati.At the 2022 European Championships in Rome, Loktev was a part of the Israeli 4 x 200 Freestyle Relay team that finished 5^th. He was 9^th in his 100M free prelim heat with a 49.98 and in the 200 Freestyle prelims he was 5^th in heat 5 (1:48.93). As a part of the 4 x 100 Freestyle relay, he helped Israel finish 6^th in heat 2 with a leadoff split 49.97 (leadoff) as Israel put up a 3:18.23. He also helped the 4 x 200 freestyle mixed relay (mixed) finish sixth in the finals with a leadoff split of 1:47.66 as the team posted a 7:38.45.

2021-22: In his first season with the Cardinals, Loktev brought a strong presence to the pool, finishing 8^th at the NCAA Championships in the 800 freestyle relay (1:33.16). Loktev also swam the 200 freestyle at the NCAA. Recording best times in each of his individual events, Loktev placed 10^th in the 200 freestyle (1:33.74), 10^th in the 500 freestyle (4:17.46), and 21^st in the 200 butterfly (1:45.51) at the ACC Conference Championships. Loktev also led his team to a 2^nd place finish in the 800 freestyle relay (1:33.28). Competing in the dual season, Loktev had six top-6 finishes. Against Kentucky, he placed 3^rd in the 200 freestyle, 4^th in the 500 freestyle, and 2^nd in the 400 freestyle relay. Loktev finished 4^th in the 200 freestyle, 5^th in the 500 freestyle, and 6^th in the 400 freestyle relay against Indiana.