Southwest DeKalb's Pilar King Wins Two More Gold Medals at Georgia Swimming Championships

Senior swimmer becomes 15th DeKalb girls' swimmer to win three state titles

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Southwest DeKalb County High School senior Pilar King won gold medals in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke at the recent GHSA State Swimming and Diving Championships, becoming the 15th DeKalb girls' swimmer to win three state titles. King, a University of Arizona signee, set a new DeKalb County record in the 50 freestyle with a time of 22.57 seconds.

Why it matters

King's performance continues the strong tradition of swimming excellence in DeKalb County, which has produced numerous state champions over the years. Her accomplishments highlight the talent and dedication of local high school athletes and the strength of the county's swim programs.

The details

King bested her own DeKalb County Championships record of 23.96 seconds in the 50 freestyle, swimming a 22.57 to claim gold. She also repeated as the 100 backstroke champion with a time of 54.29, 0.51 seconds faster than her winning time the previous year. King's two gold medals helped Southwest DeKalb tie for 16th place out of 25 teams at the state meet.

  • King won gold in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke at the recent GHSA State Swimming and Diving Championships.
  • King set a new DeKalb County record of 22.57 seconds in the 50 freestyle, besting her previous record of 23.96 seconds.

The players

Pilar King

A senior swimmer at Southwest DeKalb County High School who has signed to swim at the University of Arizona. King became the 15th DeKalb girls' swimmer to win three state titles.

Southwest DeKalb County High School

The high school that Pilar King attends, where she has continued the strong tradition of swimming excellence in DeKalb County.

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What they’re saying

“King's performance put Southwest DeKalb in a tie for 16th out of 25 teams.”

— Mark Brock, DCSD Athletics Specialist (ocgnews.com)

What’s next

King will look to continue her success at the University of Arizona, where she has signed to swim.

The takeaway

Pilar King's accomplishments at the Georgia swimming championships highlight the depth of talent in DeKalb County's high school swimming programs and the county's ongoing tradition of producing elite swimmers.