Run down the list of names on the Virginia swim team and one is sure to stand out. However, it's not because he's a six-time All-American, holds an ACC title and was named 2005 ACC Swimmer of the Year. No, the thing is that amid the Ryans, Tonys and Davids of the swim team a name like Vanja Rogulj is going to stand out.
Originally from Zagreb, Croatia, Rogulj came to the United States and began swimming for Virginia in 2003.
"There used to be an assistant swim coach from U.Va. that was from Croatia," Rogulj said. "I was working with her in a lot of the camps, and I basically got recruited by her."
Rogulj was not the first member of his family to attend college in the United States. His older brother went to college in New York, although the elder Rogulj no longer swims.
"He used to swim," Rogulj said. "But he said when I beat him he's going to stop."
Of course, Rogulj doesn't necessarily represent the typical little brother rival. Rogulj has competed twice for Croatia in the Olympics, the first time at Sydney in 2000 and then in Greece last year.
"Sydney Olympics were amazing," Rogulj said. "Maybe it's because those were my first Olympics, but I just think that the whole coordination and the arrangement of the Olympics in Sydney were a lot better. In Greece, the spirit, the whole atmosphere, wasn't as good as in Sydney."
Although Rogulj still swims for his National and club teams in Croatia, he has done plenty to contribute to Virginia swimming as well. At the Cavaliers' last meet, Rogulj won both the 100 and 200 meter breaststroke. He was one of two Cavaliers to win two events, with senior Fran Crippen capturing the 1,000 and 500 meter freestyle. Rogulj's time in the 100 meter breast stroke automatically qualifies him for the NCAAs. Incredibly, it was his first time swimming the 100 breast this season. Last year he secured the ACC title in the 200 meter breast.
Virginia coach Mark Bernadino says Rogulj brings more than just sheer talent to the team.
"Anytime you're dealing with one of the premier athletes of the world, they'll bring confidence," Bernadino said. "He brings everybody a high degree of confidence. He's just one of the nicest people in the world."
Although Rogulj's accomplishments now speak for themselves, like all athletes, he still had much to work on when he walked on to the pool deck at Virginia. Even though he had already competed in the Olympics for Croatia, the routine and workouts at Virginia were different from those back home.
"I think when he came, he wasn't as prepared to handle the physical workload ... relative to what he did in Croatia," Bernadino said. "He's developed tremendously in his time here. He's gone from being someone who would struggle with time sets and longer workouts to someone who's really comfortable in his training, really comfortable with his race strategy."
Although only a junior, Rogulj's is poised to have another record-breaking year.
"I think he's well positioned to challenge for the NCAA title this year if he improves his strength and reaction times off the block," Bernadino said.
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