Guyanese swimmer Raekwon Noel is being hailed as one of the most significant “breakout” talents in American collegiate swimming heading into the 2026 postseason at Indiana University.
As the NCAA dual meet season concludes, Noel has transitioned from relative obscurity to a vital title threat for “Breaststroke U.”
While Indiana is world-renowned for its stroke specialists, Noel is carving out a new legacy in the backstroke and butterfly lanes, following in the footsteps of Hoosier legends like Brendan Burns.
What makes Noel’s 2025-26 campaign so remarkable is the sheer breadth of his improvement. Unlike many specialists, Noel has dropped significant time in nearly every discipline he enters.
At the midseason mark, he shattered the 45-second barrier in the 100-yard backstroke (44.91), a drop of nearly a full second in just six weeks. He followed that with personal bests in the 200 backstroke (1:40.63) and the 100 butterfly (45.28).
The numbers tell the story of an athlete who has found a new gear.
Noel has dropped over a second in four different events this season, including a massive two-second improvement in the 100-yard freestyle.
| Event | 2024-25 Best Time | 2025-26 Best Time |
| 50 free | 21.02 | 19.95 |
| 100 free | 45.63 | 42.86 |
| 200 free | 1:37.31 | 1:35.33 |
| 100 back | 46.13 | 44.91 |
| 200 back | 1:41.56 | 1:40.63 |
| 100 fly | 46.66 | 45.28 |
| 200 fly | 1:42.35 | 1:41.14 |
Last season, Noel was a designated non-scoring swimmer for Indiana at the Big Ten Championships and did not compete at the NCAA Championships. However, after Indiana suffered heavy losses to graduation last summer, Noel has stepped up to fill the void.
His recent form—highlighted by a blistering 1:41.14 in the 200 fly against Louisville this past weekend—virtually guarantees him a scoring role at both the Big Tens and the NCAA Championships in late March. (Modified from Swim Swam)
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