Broward boys swimmer of the year: Kaii Winkler, South Florida HEAT junior

Kaii Winkler grew in stature by a couple of inches since last season.

It was his swimming, however, that grew leaps and bounds from a year ago and it showed at this year’s FHSAA Class 1A state swimming and diving championships at Sailfish Splash Waterpark and Aquatics Center in Stuart.

Winkler, who grew from 6-3 to 6-5, was a double winner in the boys’ 200-yard freestyle in 1:34.18, which represented a time drop of 5.09 seconds, and 100 freestyle in 42.52. Both were Automatic All-American times.

Winkler owns the county’s fastest time in nearly every event this year, but the 100 and 200 freestyles are his signature events. He said he was very confident going into the state meet.

“I think I matured as a swimmer,” Winkler added. “It was a great experience and I think going to all of these big meets has taught me a lot of what to do when I am racing and how to execute my races.”

“I have a good technique on freestyle, and I think the longer I get, the faster I am going to get. I continue to do that strength work on the land, and I will continue to get stronger in the water,” he said. “Florida has a lot of great swimmers, maybe the best in the country, so there is a lot of pressure there.”

He’s a 2-time state champion and record holder in the 100 freestyle. Winkler also holds the 15-16 National Age Group record holder and was on the USA national junior team for the 2022-2023 season. He expects to add two more inches to his frame.

Winkler represented USA at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships and is a World Junior Record holder, fifth in American history on the 15-16 age group in the 200 freestyle. He is third in American history in the 50 freestyle long course for the 15-16 age group, and fourth all-time in American history on the 100 freestyle long course for the 15-16 age group.

Winkler said he was most proud of getting the National Age Group record and breaking two states records, in addition to breaking the World Junior Record in the 4×100 freestyle relay in Hawaii at the Junior Pan Pacific Championship.

South Florida HEAT swim coach Adam Madarassy marveled at Winkler’s performance this season where he literally had the fast time in Broward County in nearly every event.

“Kaii is a hungry warrior,” Madarassy said. “He just wants to go out there and swim fast which helps to create a positive and fun environment to everyone and help them reach their best.”