Eva Hannesdottir (2025) - JMU Athletics Hall of Fame - James Madison University Athletics

Eva Hannesdottir

Induction:
2025
Class:
2012

Eva Hannesdottir made a lasting impact on the JMU swimming and diving program in her final two seasons of college eligibility, breaking seven different JMU records before advancing to become the first and only Olympian in program history. The freestyle sprint swimmer was a two-time Mid-Major All-America Honorable Mention selection, a three-time Colonial Athletic Association individual champion and three-time CAA relay event champion. Along the way, she set seven NCAA "B" Cut times, individually in the 50-, 100- and 200-meter freestyle as well as the 200, 400 and 800 free relays and 400 medley relay. At one time, she was part of school records in the same seven events and still ranks as high as second in program history in the 100 free and 200 free relay as well as third in the 200 free and 400 medley relay. In 2011, the Dukes finished runner up at the CAA Championship with Hannesdottir individually placing fourth with 53 points scored in the meet. In her senior campaign in 2012, she was second overall with 57 points as JMU broke through with its first program title since 2001. She later became the national champion of Iceland in the 100 and 200 freestyle and qualified for the 2012 London Olympics for Iceland in the 400 medley relay.