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Insider: Nikolaev turns pro, joins ISL
9/14/2020 9:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Paul Coro, Lopes Insider Blog
GCU's greatest swimmer joins DC Trident roster for short season
Mark Nikolaev last swam for Grand Canyon in 2019 as a first-team All-American.
Even as the most accomplished swimmer in Lopes history, Nikolaev missed the team environment that he never realized he would enjoy so much when he came to GCU from Russia in 2015.
Nikolaev will recapture some of that feeling this year as he turns professional by joining DC Trident in the International Swimming League.
The 23-year-old backstroke specialist makes GCU one of 30 college programs represented in the ISL, which has 10 franchises that are composed of up to 32 swimmers each. GCU is one of three non-Power Five conference programs with a former swimmer competing in the ISL this season.
Instead of its original plans for a six-month season, the ISL revised its schedule for five weeks of training camp and competition in Budapest, Hungary, starting in mid-October. Four teams will advance to a December final, likely to be held in Tokyo, where Nikolaev was striving to be this year until the Olympics were canceled.
"All of the best swimmers are there with some exceptions," Nikolaev said of the ISL. "It's actually pretty cool. I wanted to be there last year but it didn't work out, maybe because I wasn't as persistent with GMs (team general managers). It feels really nice. I really enjoyed college and I really like GCU because of regular swim meets and championships. This is basically college all over again. It's going to be really nice to swim for a team again."
The matches, which pit two teams in 39 races over two days, will be shown in the U.S. but the ISL has not identified its broadcast partner.
"I am very excited for Mark to have this opportunity to compete and prove himself at the highest level in the ISL and I am grateful to (Trident head coach) Cindy Gallagher and (Trident general manager) Kaitlin Sandeno for taking a look at Mark when I suggested he would be a great fit for them," GCU head coach Steve Schaffer said. "Mark is a tough competitor and brings a lot of speed and versatility to the team."
Nikolaev said he was "on the bubble" for an Olympic spot on the Russian swimming team when his national trials were canceled.
He has been living with his family in Russia since March, resuming training for the past five but more for leisure. At GCU, he always felt pushed by teammates and relished the competition of meets that he will get back in the ISL.
Even after finishing third in the nation in the 100-yard backstroke in 2019, he still considers helping GCU win its first WAC men's swimming and diving championship last year as his fondest memory.
"I am itching everywhere because I want to beat somebody," said Nikolaev, a three-time WAC Men's Swimmer of the Year who won the 2019 Joe Kearney Award as the conference's top male student-athlete.
Nikolaev knows professional swimming will be more challenging, especially amid COVID-19 restrictions with swimmers being tested every five days. He will train twice a day with hopes of scoring in the relays and individual backstroke and freestyle races under Gallagher, who coached UCLA for 31 years. Swimmers earn a base salary and can make additional prize money based on race finishes.
Nikolaev plans to move back to Phoenix after the ISL season and is hoping to continue training for the Olympics while possibly working. He earned a master's degree in Business Administration in December after obtaining a bachelor's degree in Finance.
"I would like to thank Steve because he has done so much for me – everywhere, in the pool and out of the pool," Nikolaev said. "He helps me with everything. He's like an American dad."
Even as the most accomplished swimmer in Lopes history, Nikolaev missed the team environment that he never realized he would enjoy so much when he came to GCU from Russia in 2015.
Nikolaev will recapture some of that feeling this year as he turns professional by joining DC Trident in the International Swimming League.The 23-year-old backstroke specialist makes GCU one of 30 college programs represented in the ISL, which has 10 franchises that are composed of up to 32 swimmers each. GCU is one of three non-Power Five conference programs with a former swimmer competing in the ISL this season.
Instead of its original plans for a six-month season, the ISL revised its schedule for five weeks of training camp and competition in Budapest, Hungary, starting in mid-October. Four teams will advance to a December final, likely to be held in Tokyo, where Nikolaev was striving to be this year until the Olympics were canceled.
"All of the best swimmers are there with some exceptions," Nikolaev said of the ISL. "It's actually pretty cool. I wanted to be there last year but it didn't work out, maybe because I wasn't as persistent with GMs (team general managers). It feels really nice. I really enjoyed college and I really like GCU because of regular swim meets and championships. This is basically college all over again. It's going to be really nice to swim for a team again."
The matches, which pit two teams in 39 races over two days, will be shown in the U.S. but the ISL has not identified its broadcast partner.
"I am very excited for Mark to have this opportunity to compete and prove himself at the highest level in the ISL and I am grateful to (Trident head coach) Cindy Gallagher and (Trident general manager) Kaitlin Sandeno for taking a look at Mark when I suggested he would be a great fit for them," GCU head coach Steve Schaffer said. "Mark is a tough competitor and brings a lot of speed and versatility to the team."
Nikolaev said he was "on the bubble" for an Olympic spot on the Russian swimming team when his national trials were canceled.
He has been living with his family in Russia since March, resuming training for the past five but more for leisure. At GCU, he always felt pushed by teammates and relished the competition of meets that he will get back in the ISL.
Even after finishing third in the nation in the 100-yard backstroke in 2019, he still considers helping GCU win its first WAC men's swimming and diving championship last year as his fondest memory.
"I am itching everywhere because I want to beat somebody," said Nikolaev, a three-time WAC Men's Swimmer of the Year who won the 2019 Joe Kearney Award as the conference's top male student-athlete.Nikolaev knows professional swimming will be more challenging, especially amid COVID-19 restrictions with swimmers being tested every five days. He will train twice a day with hopes of scoring in the relays and individual backstroke and freestyle races under Gallagher, who coached UCLA for 31 years. Swimmers earn a base salary and can make additional prize money based on race finishes.
Nikolaev plans to move back to Phoenix after the ISL season and is hoping to continue training for the Olympics while possibly working. He earned a master's degree in Business Administration in December after obtaining a bachelor's degree in Finance.
"I would like to thank Steve because he has done so much for me – everywhere, in the pool and out of the pool," Nikolaev said. "He helps me with everything. He's like an American dad."
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
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