Bako’s Top Times
50-free: 22.60 2025 Georgia Invitational
100-free: 49.11 2025 Georgia Invitational
200-free: 1:47.72 2025 Georgia Invitational
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2025-26)
Opened her sophomore season at the Air Force Invitational, placing second in the 100-free (50.97) and sixth in the 200-free (1:54.93) … In the home opener against Kentucky, Bako placed second in the 100-free (1:48.11) and the 200-free (49.21) … In the Tigers’ tri-meet victory over Alabama and FSU, she touched fourth in 100-free (49.31) and sixth in the 200-free (1:48.06) … Finished fourth in the 200-free (1:50.58) and fifth in the 100-free (50.21) in quad-meet against Rice, Houston, and Tulane … At midseasons, she set personal bests in the 50-free (22.60), the 100-free (49.11), and the 200-free (1:47.72) … In the dual meet at Florida, Bako placed third in the 100-free (51.94) and fifth in the 200-free (1:54.14) … At the SEC Championships, she finished 29th in the 50-free (22.68), 38th in the 200-free (1:48.64), and 45th in the 100-free (49.96)
FRESHMAN SEASON (2024-25)
In the opening meet of the season against Texas placed fifth in the 100-free (49.52) … Won 100-free in a quad-meet against Navy, George Mason, and Loyola (50.68) … Finished fourth in 100-free in a tri-meet against Houston and Tulane (49.84) … Took fourth place in 100-free against Alabama and FSU (1:48.49) and fifth place in 100-free (49.76) … At midseason placed 21st in 100-free (49.84), 22nd in 200-free with a personal best while at LSU (1:49.05), and 20th in 50-free (22.93) … Notched fifth in 200-free against Texas A&M (1:49.07) and fourth place in 100-free (49.84) … At SEC Championships recorded a personal best in 50-free (22.71) and another personal best in 100-free (49.31)
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended the Emil Racovita National College based in her home country of Romania… A freestyle specialist while swimming for the Romanian Swimming Federation, her first major event came at the European Junior Championships… Placed 28th in the 50-free (26.25) and 44th in the 100-free (58.06)… Eight of her 10 best times in either SCM or LCM came during 2023
PERSONAL
Born on March 22, 2006… A native of Oradea, Russia, and attended high school at Emil Racovita National College near her hometown… While in college, she wants to continue reading, learning, painting, and trying new things… Parents are named Ioana Bako and Emeric Bako; has one sibling – a sister named Maia… Chose LSU “Because I liked the people that I was talking to. It’s a beautiful environment, and I get to compete with great athletes there.”