Completed Event: Women's Swimming and Diving at Hawkeye Invitational on November 18, 2025 , , 5th
Final
Women's Swimming and Diving
at Hawkeye Invitational
5th
2024-25 Women's Swimming and Diving Roster
Roster
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Karla Lessing
- Position:
- Free/Fly
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Boulder, Colo.
- High School:
- Fairview High School
Get to Know Karla ...
At what age did you start swimming and how did you get into the sport?
- I started swimming when I was 5 years old. My parents were both professional triathletes so they wanted to get me into the water at a young age.
- I listen to music and do my stretch and warm up series.
- I listen to every genre of music.
- Track or gymnastics.
- Have fun and never take it too serious.
- My dad. He was a 5x world champion and Olympian in triathlon. He always taught my sister and I the importance of sport and to always do our best with whatever whe do in life.
- I chose KU because of the athletic community. I visited other schools and KU had the best program.
Top Collegiate Times
| Time | Event | Date | Meet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5:06.86 | 500 Y Free | 2/4/2022 | Iowa State |
| 10:38.68 | 1000 Y Free | 2/9/2024 | Iowa State |
| 17:25.77 | 1650 Y Free | 11/15/2023 | Mizzou Invite |
| 2:24.30 | 200 Y IM | 11/3/2023 | Nebraska |
| 4:43.39 | 400 Y IM | 11/19/2021 | Kansas Classic |
2024-25 (Senior)
- Academic All-Big 12 Team
- Placed third in the 1000 free (10:39.02) against South Dakota.Â
2023-24Â (Junior)
- Academic All-Big 12 First Team.
- Earned a new lifetime best in the 1,000-yard freestyle by over 14 seconds (10:38.68) at Iowa State on Feb. 9. Â
2022-23 (Sophomore)
- Placed second in the 1,650-yard freestyle (17:35.56) versus Arkansas on Jan. 21.
- Placed fourth in the 500-yard Freestyle (5:23.30) versus Arkansas on Jan. 21.
2021-22 (Freshman)
- Named to the Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team.
- Made collegiate debut at the Sunflower Showdown (Oct. 1).
- Finished with the third-best time in the 1,000-yard freestyle event for the Jayhawks with a time of 10:26.08.
High School
- Lessing competed at the Colorado High School 4A State Championships in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle.
- In December of 2019, Lessing won the 1,650 freestyle and took third place in the 500 freestyle at Colorado Swimming’s Pioneer Open.
Personal
- Daughter of Simon and Lisa Lessing
- Has a sister, Amélie, who is a Kansas Swimming and Diving alumni
- Father, Simon is a 5x Pro Triathlete World Champion and competitor for Great Britain in the 2000 Sydney Olympics
- Undecided about her major
Saturday, January 27
Saturday, November 04
Saturday, October 21
Saturday, October 21
