Champion swimmer from Oklahoma Baptist University dies after pool accident

SHAWNEE — A championship swimmer from Oklahoma Baptist University died while practicing in the college’s pool Friday, just under a week after leading the men’s swimming and diving team to victory, university officials said.

Ivan Maciuniak, 22, went underwater and didn’t resurface while swimming with teammates Friday afternoon, said David Whitlock, the president of the university, in a message sent to faculty, students and staff around 7 p.m. Friday.

“According to those at the pool, Ivan was swimming when he went under water. He was pulled from the pool, CPR was administered, and paramedics arrived to continue CPR and transport him to Unity Hospital North,” Whitlock wrote. “He was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after 5:15 p.m.”

Maciuniak is a freshman from Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain. His brother, Mateo, is also an OBU student, Whitlock said in the message.

On Saturday, Maciuniak was part of a relay team that led the OBU men’s swimming and diving team to a national victory. The men were competing in National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics division 1 championship, said Marty O’Gwynn, a spokesman for the university.

Maciuniak helped the 400-meter relay team break an NAIA record to take the title at the contest hosted at Oklahoma City Community College.

Just under a week later, the team is mourning the loss of the swimmer.

School officials are waiting for more information on what happened from the medical examiner but have called the death an accident, O’Gwynn said. Maciuniak was swimming with friends and teammates but not practicing since the season had just ended, he said.

Thank you for joining our conversation on NewsOK Now. We encourage your discussion but ask that you stay within the bounds of our commenting and posting policy.