AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria University athletics department is saddened to announce that swimmer Hannah Nelson passed away Sunday.

Nelson had suffered a catastrophic brain bleed Saturday before passing on Easter Sunday.

The university held a funeral Mass for the repose of  Nelson's soul Tuesday evening. Eight members of the Ave Maria Swim team were the pallbearers, and many more teammates, classmates and family members shared stories of Nelson throughout the evening to a packed Ave Maria Catholic Church.

Nelson was a two-year member of the Ave Maria Swim team after transferring from Augustana University. In her first season with the Gyrenes, Nelson broke the school record for the 1650-yard freestyle by four seconds. Later that year at the Small College Championships in Georgia, she obliterated her previous time by 30 seconds, a record time that still stands to this day.

Nelson was also a member of the US Para Swimming World Championship Team. In 2023, she was the only American to qualify for the 400-meter freestyle final and placed seventh.

"Hannah was the definition of a true leader for our team, both in and out of the pool," said head coach Giordan Harris. "Between her collegiate and paralympic careers, her story impacted a lot of people well beyond our campus. Hannah was joyful, bright and genuinely happy to be at Ave Maria. We are going to miss her."

"Hannah was able to brighten any practice or lift with just her presence and colorful array of orange suits," said teammate Maeve O'Brien. "Her joyful attitude, humble heart and gentle disposition allowed her to smile during the toughest sets and uplift her teammates both in and out of the pool."

"Hannah's presence on the team was one of joyful strength," said teammate Clare Tamisiea. "Personally, she was like an encouraging sister to me, someone who I always looked up to and hoped I could be like one day. She inspired everyone around her to become the best version of themselves by her good example. She was so loved and will always have a special place on this team and in our hearts."