Name: Tim Korstanje
Born: 22 Jan. 2003
Sport: Men’s Swimming
School: The University of Alabama
Placed: Fall 2022
Tim Korstanje was one of the best young swimmers in the Netherlands for many years. As the younger brother of Olympic swimmer Nyls Korstanje, he always had an example to look up to. After high school, he initially decided to stay in the Netherlands to study and swim in Amsterdam. But that combination proved difficult in practice. The balance between top sport and study was hard to find, and Tim started thinking about an alternative route: college swimming in America.
Late decision, quick turnaround
When he tied the knot to move to the United States, he came in contact with Slamstox. Because Tim entered the process relatively late, time constraints were a major challenge. Together with Slamstox, everything was quickly arranged: documents, translations, NCAA registrations and, above all, the search for a suitable university. It quickly turned out that the University of Alabama was the place where Tim could combine his athletic and academic ambitions. Within a short time, the deal was done and his transfer was made official.
Strong debut season at Alabama
Tim impressed from his first season at Alabama. His performances in the water were immediately high level. He became Second Team All-SEC and earned Second Team All-America honors as a member of the 400 yard freestyle relay. At the prestigious SEC Championship tournament, he swam a bronze medal with the team in the 400 freestyle relay, also setting a school record. Individually, he set personal records: on several events.
Tim also showed himself outside the championships. At the Tennessee Invitational, he swam an impressive split of 42.17 on the anchor leg of the 400 freestyle relay. He picked up victories in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly in races against Missouri and Delta State, among others, and made strong contributions on multiple relay teams.
Academic success beyond swimming
In addition to his accomplishments in the pool, Tim also excelled in the college ranks. He was inducted into the 2024 CSC Academic All-District Team, which recognizes him as one of the best student-athletes academically. This shows that he is also among the best outside the water and perfectly capable of combining sports and studies, a goal he clearly had in mind beforehand.
The Role of Slamstox
Slamstox played a vital role in the process. Because of the late entry, we had to switch quickly in several areas: administration, translations, contact with coaches and NCAA eligibility. Thanks to Slamstox’s personal contact and experience, the process went smoothly despite the time pressure. This allowed Tim to fully focus on his preparation and transfer to America.
A dream start on the other side
The transition to the American system went surprisingly smoothly. Tim quickly found his place at Alabama, performed at the top level, gained a lot of confidence from his coaches and made great strides as an athlete. With a full athletic scholarship, impressive performances at the national and collegiate level as well as academic success, Tim Korstanje is without a doubt a Slamstox success story.
Are you interested in college swimming in the U.S. just like Tim? Schedule a free introduction!
