University of Georgia Athletics
Landreneau Benefitting From Dobson Push
December 02, 2025 | Swimming & Diving, The Frierson Files, Women's Swimming & Diving
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Marie Landreneau had a very productive freshman year on the Georgia women's swimming and diving team, competing well in multiple events at the SEC and NCAA championships. It was a year of learning and development, and a year that inspired her to push for even bigger things as a sophomore.
"Probably the biggest difference is just trusting the process and just enjoying what I'm doing, and just racing," she said. "I'm just enjoying the simple side of swimming, instead of overthinking and putting pressure on myself."
Along with Duné Coetzee, Shea Furse and Ieva Maluka, Landreneau earned second-team All-America honors with an 11th-place finish in the 800 relay at last spring's NCAAs. In the 100 free, Landreneau placed 69th; in the 200 free, she was 29th. Stefanie Williams Moreno. Georgia's Tom Cousins Women's Swimming & Diving Head Coach, said Landreneau has improved in a number of areas this season.
"She's always been mature, but she's stronger, she's fitter; she's always taken things super seriously, but she's also playful and fun," Moreno said. "Marie did a great job last year, and she's just building on the foundation from last year and then the spring and summer."
One key difference for Landreneau as a sophomore is the presence of standout freshman Kennedi Dobson, who has already twice been named the SEC Freshman Swimmer of the Week. At last month's Georgia Fall Invitational at Gabrielsen Natatorium, Dobson won the 1,650 free (by more than 9 seconds), the 200 free, and anchored the Bulldogs' winning 800 free relay team. The 200 free and 800 relay times were both the fourth-fastest in program history, and her 1,650 time was the fifth fastest.
"I've never had a training partner that I'm this close with, and that pushed me so hard every day," Landreneau said. "It's so fun and it's so exciting, and it's also so comforting. Whenever I see her swim something, I'm like, okay, she's swimming fast. I know I can do something fast because we do it together every day, so I really love it.
"I love being able to be on the team with her, because she's not just an amazing swimmer, she's an amazing person, too, and she's always so supportive."
A star recruit and already named to the 2025-26 USA Swimming National Team and the 2026 U.S. Pan Pacific Championships Team, Dobson has Georgia's fastest times so far this season in the 200, 500, 1,000 and 1,650 freestyle events. During the Georgia Fall Invitational, Landreneau placed second (1:43.47) behind Dobson (1:42.19) in the 200 free and was part of the winning 800 relay team, swimming the third leg in 1:43.96, second only to Dobson's 1:41.91 in the anchor leg.
"Kennedi makes everybody better, and she and Marie have a pretty good practice tag-team, kind of pushing each other to the limits," Moreno said. "It's been really fun to watch, and I think it's been really good for Kennedi."
Landreneau's improvement shows up in her times. She's already posted faster times than last year in the 50, 100 and 500 freestyle, with the 200 times nearly identical. A lot of that she attributes to training and racing with Dobson.
"Being next to her in any race is just always so energizing and exciting, just because she's a great swimmer and she makes me better," Landreneau said.
Swimming is in her blood. Both of her parents are swim coaches, so getting into the sport "was kind of non-negotiable," she said. Landreneau said she first started swimming when she was 5 years old, "and I always loved it and stuck with it."
A little more than a quarter of the way through her collegiate career, Landreneau is excited by what she's already accomplished and for what the future holds. And a big part of that is being a part of this Georgia team, which inspires her every day.
"The most satisfying part is not only seeing where I've come, but the people I came in with and seeing where they've come," she said. "Seeing where we're going, seeing how the freshmen are improving in just the few months they've been here. I just love it."
Staff Writer
Marie Landreneau had a very productive freshman year on the Georgia women's swimming and diving team, competing well in multiple events at the SEC and NCAA championships. It was a year of learning and development, and a year that inspired her to push for even bigger things as a sophomore.
"Probably the biggest difference is just trusting the process and just enjoying what I'm doing, and just racing," she said. "I'm just enjoying the simple side of swimming, instead of overthinking and putting pressure on myself."
Along with Duné Coetzee, Shea Furse and Ieva Maluka, Landreneau earned second-team All-America honors with an 11th-place finish in the 800 relay at last spring's NCAAs. In the 100 free, Landreneau placed 69th; in the 200 free, she was 29th. Stefanie Williams Moreno. Georgia's Tom Cousins Women's Swimming & Diving Head Coach, said Landreneau has improved in a number of areas this season.
"She's always been mature, but she's stronger, she's fitter; she's always taken things super seriously, but she's also playful and fun," Moreno said. "Marie did a great job last year, and she's just building on the foundation from last year and then the spring and summer."
One key difference for Landreneau as a sophomore is the presence of standout freshman Kennedi Dobson, who has already twice been named the SEC Freshman Swimmer of the Week. At last month's Georgia Fall Invitational at Gabrielsen Natatorium, Dobson won the 1,650 free (by more than 9 seconds), the 200 free, and anchored the Bulldogs' winning 800 free relay team. The 200 free and 800 relay times were both the fourth-fastest in program history, and her 1,650 time was the fifth fastest.
"I've never had a training partner that I'm this close with, and that pushed me so hard every day," Landreneau said. "It's so fun and it's so exciting, and it's also so comforting. Whenever I see her swim something, I'm like, okay, she's swimming fast. I know I can do something fast because we do it together every day, so I really love it.
"I love being able to be on the team with her, because she's not just an amazing swimmer, she's an amazing person, too, and she's always so supportive."
A star recruit and already named to the 2025-26 USA Swimming National Team and the 2026 U.S. Pan Pacific Championships Team, Dobson has Georgia's fastest times so far this season in the 200, 500, 1,000 and 1,650 freestyle events. During the Georgia Fall Invitational, Landreneau placed second (1:43.47) behind Dobson (1:42.19) in the 200 free and was part of the winning 800 relay team, swimming the third leg in 1:43.96, second only to Dobson's 1:41.91 in the anchor leg.
"Kennedi makes everybody better, and she and Marie have a pretty good practice tag-team, kind of pushing each other to the limits," Moreno said. "It's been really fun to watch, and I think it's been really good for Kennedi."
Landreneau's improvement shows up in her times. She's already posted faster times than last year in the 50, 100 and 500 freestyle, with the 200 times nearly identical. A lot of that she attributes to training and racing with Dobson.
"Being next to her in any race is just always so energizing and exciting, just because she's a great swimmer and she makes me better," Landreneau said.
Swimming is in her blood. Both of her parents are swim coaches, so getting into the sport "was kind of non-negotiable," she said. Landreneau said she first started swimming when she was 5 years old, "and I always loved it and stuck with it."
A little more than a quarter of the way through her collegiate career, Landreneau is excited by what she's already accomplished and for what the future holds. And a big part of that is being a part of this Georgia team, which inspires her every day.
"The most satisfying part is not only seeing where I've come, but the people I came in with and seeing where they've come," she said. "Seeing where we're going, seeing how the freshmen are improving in just the few months they've been here. I just love it."
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files.
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