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Northern Michigan University

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2019-20 Swimming and Diving

Rachel Helm

  • Year Senior
  • Hometown Newcastle upon Tyne, England
  • High School Burnside College
  • Position IM/Breast/Back

Biography

2018-19: Named GLIAC Women’s Swimmer of the Year for the second-straight season after posting four individual victories at the GLIAC Championships, along with a school record in the 200-yard backstroke. Finished third in the 200 back, fifth in the 200-yard individual medley and sixth in the 100-yard backstroke at the NCAA Championships. Posted school records in the 100-yard butterfly, 200 back, and 200 IM.

2017-18: Won the 200-yard backstroke at the NCAA Championships, capturing her second national title. Was named the GLIAC Women’s Swimmer of the Year after winning four events at the GLIAC Championship. Was named the GLIAC Female Swimmer of the Week after the first weekend. Broke her own school record to set a new mark of 1:56.38 in the 200-yard backstroke.

2016-17: Helm became the first Wildcat swimmer since 1999 to be crowned a national champion by clocking in at a school-record 53.79 in the 100-yard backstroke at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships. She also earned All-American accolades in the 200-yard backstroke, placing third. The GLIAC Freshman of the Year, she won the 100-yard backstroke, 100-yard butterfly, 100-yard freestyle and 200 IM at the conference championship meet.

Before NMU: Helm has been a national swimmer for eight years and is an Advanced Apprenticeship Swimming Excellence athlete. She placed fourth in the 100 breaststroke at the national meet. In 2015, Helm was the ASA National Champion in the 100 backstroke. She also captured a bronze medal in the 4x100 medley relay at the Sainsbury's School Games.

Personal: Daughter of Robert and Maureen Helm. Born on November 26, 1997.

Historical Player Information

  • 2016-17Freshman

    IM/Breast/Back
  • 2017-18Sophomore

    IM/Breast/Back
  • 2018-19Junior

    IM/Breast/Back
  • 2019-20Senior

    IM/Breast/Back