Kentucky swim and dive announced that 2024 Paris Olympian and NCAA Champion Esteban Núñez del Prado has joined the Wildcats for the upcoming 2025 season. 

Núñez del Prado, originally from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, transferred to Kentucky from Grand Valley State after one year, where he earned many accolades his first collegiate season. 

The rising-sophomore specializes in butterfly, breaststroke and individual medley (IM), even showcasing his IM expertise in the 2024 Paris Olympics, swimming for Bolivia and placing third against Paraguay and Seychelles and 23rd in the 200-meter IM. 

With Grand Valley State, Nuñez del Prado earned 2025 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Freshman of the Year, GLIAC Swim and Dive Champion (team honors) and in the NCAA DII National Championships, he clenched sixth place in the 200-meter medley relay and third place in the 400-meter medley relay.

Placing third was followed by the 200-meter medley relay team earning the school’s first ever NCAA National Championship in the event, as well as breaking the schools record in both the finals and the championship.

Núñez del Prado was also a 2025 NCAA National Championship All-American. 

This is the first transfer announcement for the 2025-26 season from the Wildcats.