Bella Pantano
- position Backstroke
- class Junior
- Hometown Omaha, NE
- High school Marian
- position Backstroke
- class Junior
- Hometown Omaha, NE
- High school Marian
Bella Pantano Bio
| Pantano’s Top Times | ||||
| Event | Time | Date | Meet | Location |
| 50 Freestyle | 24.32p | 2/18/21 | SEC Championships | Athens, GA |
| 100 Backstroke | 52.66# | 2/17/23 | SEC Championships | College Station, TX |
| 200 Backstroke
100 Butterfly 200 IM |
1:53.37p
52.90 2:01.85p |
3/20/24
2/19/24 11/15/23 |
NCAA Championships
SEC Championships Gamecock Invitational |
Athens, GA
Auburn, AL Columbia, SC |
! = School Record | p = Prelims | t = Time Trial | # = Leadoff Split/Split
AWARDS/HONORS
- 4x SEC Academic Honor Roll (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
- 3x CSCAA Scholar All-American (2nd team – 2022, 2023, 1st team – 2024)
- 2x CSC Academic All-District (2023, 2024)
2023-24 (SENIOR)
- Consistently placed in the top-three of the 100 back including winning the event at the Gamecock Invitational
- Landed in the top-three in the 200 back four times during the regular season with wins versus North Carolina and at the Gamecock Invitational
- Made the SEC Championship team where she individually competed in the 100 fly, 100 back, and 200 back
- Advanced to the finals of all three of her individual events at the SEC Championships, finishing 21st in the 100 fly, 19th in the 100 back, and 11th in the 200 back
- Qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 100 back and 200 back
- At NCAA’s, was DQ’d in the 100 back and finished 22nd in the 200 back
2022-23 (JUNIOR)
- Continued to lower her own 100 back school record throughout the season
- Earned two first place finished in the 100 back during the regular season
- Won the 200 back during South Carolina’s season opener versus Army
- Competed on the SEC Championship team in the 100 fly, 100 back, and 200 back
- Made the finals of the 100 back at the SEC Championships, placing 16th overall
2021-22 (SOPHOMORE)
- Set a new school record in the 100 back during the meet versus Missouri and lowered it during a leadoff split of the 400 medley relay at the SEC Championships
- Placed first in the 100 back during the meet versus Gardner-Webb and versus UNCW
- Placed first in the 200 back during the meet versus Missouri
- Set new personal records in four different events
- Was the leadoff swimmer in the 200 medley relay that set a new program record
2020-21 (FRESHMAN)
- Participated in three events at the SEC Championships during her first year at South Carolina
- Achieved the 10th best time in program history in both the 100 and 200 backstroke
- Set new personal records in both the 100 and 200 back
- Was the leadoff swimmer in the 200 medley relay that placed third in program history
PRE-COLLEGE
- Attended Marian High School in Omaha, Nebraska
- Holds the high school record in the 100 backstroke, 100 fly, and the medley relay
- Swam with the Greater Omaha Aquatics club team under coach Tom Beck
- Individual best times:
- 100 back – 54.62
- 200 back – 1:58.52
