By Charlotte Wells on SwimSwam
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Turkish National Championship finalist Mert Taşbaşı will journey across the Atlantic next fall, as he has announced his verbal commitment to swim for Southern Methodist University in Texas beginning in the fall of 2027.
“I’m proud to announce my commitment to Southern Methodist University to continue my academic and swimming career. This journey has been shaped by so many people around me. I’m especially thankful to Coach Murat, Coach Alper, and every coach who has played a role in my development over the years. Thank you to my teammates, friends, and family for always being there through every stage. A special thank you to my big brother, Polat, who has been beside me throughout this entire recruiting process and helped me make one of the biggest decisions of my life. I’m also incredibly grateful to Coach Roric Fink, Coach Greg Rhodenbaugh, and the SMU staff for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to become a Mustang. Now it’s time to keep working, keep improving, and arrive at SMU ready for the next chapter. Pony Up!”
Coming to the United States from Ankara, Turkey, Taşbaşı currently trains with Galatasaray Sports Club in Istanbul, where he primarily specializes in the breaststroke events. He also represents Dutch team ZPC Amersfoort in Beekbergen, the Netherlands.
Taşbaşı turned in a series of top performances at the 2026 Turkish Junior National Championships (LCM) in April, clocking a lifetime best in each of his three events. He snagged the runner-up spot in the 200 breast (2:16.61) and placed 3rd in the 100 breast (1:02.89) and 6th in the 50 breast (29.33).
Taşbaşı was back in action at the Turkish National Championships (LCM) a month later, lowering his personal best times even further. He took 3rd in the 200 breast (2:16.38), 11th in the 100 breast (1:02.80) and 13th in the 50 breast (28.86), setting a lifetime best in all three races.
Taşbaşı’s most recent competition was at the Dutch National Championships & European Trials (LCM) in July, where he earned a second swim in all three of his individual events. He finished 15th in the 200 breast (2:17.60), 17th in the 100 breast (1:04.27) and 27th in the 50 breast (29.37).
Best Times LCM (SCY Conversion)
50 breast – 28.86 (25.09) 100 breast – 1:02.80 (54.77) 200 breast – 2:16.38 (1:59.26)A Division I program, SMU competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference, with the men’s team placing 10th out of 15 teams at last season’s conference championships. The Mustangs sent four athletes to compete at the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Championship, where they finished 23rd overall.
To earn a second swim at the 2026 ACCs, it took times of 52.95/1:56.17 in the 100/200 breast, putting Taşbaşı outside the cutoff in his top events. On the team itself, Taşbaşı’s converted SCY times would have ranked him 5th in the 200 breast and 6th in the 100 breast last season, bringing added depth to the team.
Taşbaşı is not the first in his family to pursue his collegiate swimming career in the United States; his older brother Polat Taşbaşı is heading into his senior year at Long Island University in Brooklyn.
Taşbaşı is currently set to be joined in the pool by fellow recruits Max Barnes (breast/IM) and Trey Chesney (breast/fly/IM), who should both make for strong training partners over their four years together.
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