Vera Koprivova

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Photography: 
courtesy of Athletic Communications/Rutgers University

Junior Vera Koprivova and the Rutgers women’s swimming and diving head coach Petra Martin represented the Scarlet Knights at the 2017 World University Games, which were held in late August in Taipei, Taiwan. Koprivova competed for the Czech Republic National team, for which Martin served as a coach. Koprivova, a Czech Republic native, swam in several backstroke events and on two relay teams—highlighted by her top 16 world finish in the 200-meter backstroke. “We have several student-athletes with their eyes on [the Summer Olympics in] Tokyo 2020,” says Martin. “This is the first step to getting there.”