Stanford University aims to defend its national championship in artistic swimming this week, hosting the U.S. Collegiate National Championships at Avery Aquatic Center on March 27-28. This marks the first time the Cardinal has hosted the event since winning the title in 2021.
The Cardinal are seeking their first back-to-back national titles since a dominant run of four consecutive championships from 2005 to 2008. Stanford secured its 10th national title in program history in 2025, achieving victories in the team, duet, and trio events. Artistic swimming is one of only six programs at Stanford to have reached double-digit national championships.
Stanford recently demonstrated its strength, sweeping all five event titles at the Western Regionals meet on February 28, which similarly served as Senior Day for Miko Begossi, Yujin Chang, Ivy Davis, Emily Ding, Yara Elian, and Atira O’Neil. Yara Elian, Audrey Kwon, and Calista Liu led the Cardinal, each securing multiple titles, while Morgan Woelfel won the solo routine.
Prior to the national championships, Stanford claimed its fifth consecutive MPSF Championship title on February 14-15, extending its streak as the sole team champion since the MPSF began sponsoring the sport in 2022. The team totaled 101 points. Audrey Kwon and Calista Liu won the duet title with a score of 241.0250, while Megumi Field, Dalia Ovadia, and Karen Xue secured the trio title with a score of 224.8996. The team competition was won by Elisa Brunel, Yujin Chang, Emily Ding, Atira O’Neil, Manu Pindi, Simone Radom, Ella Rau, and Yanna Hauck, achieving a score of 206.5058.
The MPSF also recognized several Stanford athletes individually. Dalia Ovadia was named MPSF Swimmer of the Meet, Karen Xue was named MPSF Freshman of the Meet, and Elvira Khasyanova was awarded the MPSF Coach of the Meet. Stanford placed a conference-best nine student-athletes on the 20-member all-conference team.
In 2025, Stanford produced three individual national champions. Dalia Ovadia was named the national championship meet’s high point scorer, contributing to all three event crowns. Megumi Field also became a three-time individual champion, teaming with Ovadia to win the duet. Field and Ovadia then joined Audrey Kwon to win the trio. The Cardinal’s team final score of 303.37, earned by Field, Kwon, Ovadia, Begossi, Davis, Elian, Liu, and Schroeder, secured the team trophy.
Head coach Elvira Khasyanova is completing her first season after serving as assistant coach for the previous seven seasons, beginning in September 2018. Khasyanova was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2021, and her professional career includes her time as a member of the Russian Senior National Team from 1999 to 2012.
The 2021 U.S. Collegiate Nationals, also held at Stanford, saw the Cardinal win the overall national title, according to Inside Synchro. Jacklyn Luu won the solo event with a score of 81.000, while Luu and Emmanuella Tchakmakjian took the duet title with 82.3000. Stanford also won the trio and team events.
