PARIS, France – University of Indianapolis incoming senior Cedric Buessing put on an historic performance at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Sunday. The two-time NCAA champion became the first-ever active Division II swimmer to qualify for an Olympic final, finishing in eighth place among the world's fastest 400 IM swimmers. Buessing put up a 4:11.52 in the morning preliminary heat—tying for the sixth-fastest time in the prelims—before later posting a 4:17.16 to finish eighth in the final.

In addition, UIndy rising sophomore Collins Saliboko made his Olympic debut on Tuesday, competing in the 100-meter freestyle for his native Tanzania. He went 53.38 in the morning prelims, taking seventh in his heat and ultimately placing 71st among the world's best.

Buessing's prelim recap from SwimSwam.com
SwimSwam's research indicates that Cedric Buessing is the first Division II athlete ever to make an Olympic swimming final, or at least the first active Division II athlete.

There were only 2 heats of the men's 400m IM which meant the field was cut in half by the time this morning's heats concluded.

While Olympic medalists from Tokyo Chase Kalisz of the United States and Brendon Smith of Australia missed the cut, 20-year-old Cedric Buessing of Germany made the most of his opportunity.

Buessing tied Italy's Alberto Razzetti and New Zealand's Lewis Clareburt with a morning mark of 4:11.52 to grab a spot in the final. Coverage is set for 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.

What makes Buessing's appearance in tonight's main event especially unique is the fact that he is an NCAA Division II swimmer. He competes for the University of Indianapolis (UIndy) where he is a 17-time NCAA All-American, 6-time national runner-up and owns program records across 7 events. Buessing is a rising senior at UIndy, meaning he has one season of collegiate eligibility remaining.

Benjamin Michaelson attended Southern Connecticut State University (DII) and nearly made the 2004 Olympic team, placing 3rd behind Ian Crocker and Michael Phelps at the U.S. Trials.

Buessing's countryman Marius Kusch raced for DII school Queens University and competed at the 2020 Olympic Games but finished 23rd in the men's 100m butterfly.

American Andrew Wilson, a Division III swimmer who competed for Emory, made the U.S. Olympic team in 2020 to become the first swimmer ever from that division to make the squad. He placed 6th in the 100m breast in Tokyo.