While Several Trials Remain, 6 Gators Look Forward to Rio
Friday, May 6, 2016 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving, Olympics
The 2016 Summer games are scheduled to run from August 5-21.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- With 91 days between now and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, you can sense the excitement around the University of Florida's campus. And for good reason.
Six former UF swimmers have already qualified for the big stage and several await their respective country's trials. UF's American hopefuls will compete at the U.S. trials in Omaha, Neb. next month.
"We have a good number of athletes who have already qualified for their respective country's Olympic teams and a few more yet to compete at Olympic Trials," said UF Head Coach Gregg Troy, who was also the head coach of the 2012 USA Men's Olympic Team. "It's really good for some of our guys like Corey Main and Jan Switkowski who just swam at the NCAA meet, and then had to go straight into trials. It's a lot hard for them as opposed to some of our other athletes who have time to go through a training cycle beforehand. We've been pleased with our results so far.
Troy Added.
"Having served as the Head Coach of the Men's team in 2012, I know how close the line is in these races -- event placings from first through eighth place can be decided by the snap of a finger. Having been in that capacity in London, you get a good perspective on how important the small things are in these types of races."
The 2016 Summer games are scheduled to run from August 5-21.
Meet the Gator Olympians:
Eduardo Solaeche-Gomez (Spain)
Solaeche-Gomez, a 12-time All-American from 2011-2015, dominated at trials and clocked a 1:58.80 in the 200-meter Individual Medley. The first-place time marked a new Spanish record as the Madrid native punched his ticket to the big stage. The 2016 Games will serve as Solaeche-Gomez's first Olympic appearance.
Thank you for all the support and help. I can finally say that WE ARE GOING TO RIO!! I will try to get back to everyone asap. #RoadToRio
— Eduardo Solaeche (@esolaeche937) March 21, 2016
Jan Switkowski (Poland)
While competing at the 2016 Canadian Swimming Trials In Toronto on April 2, Polish swimmer Jan Switkowski had a strong showing in the 200-meter Butterfly. Swimming in the B Final (since he is non-Canadian), Switkowski posted a time of 1:56.25, which registered as an 'A' cut and brought home the top-finishing time.
Switkowski's time currently ranks 10th-fastest in the world and the 5th best of his career. The 2016 Games will mark Switkowski's first Olympic experience.
Corey Main (New Zealand)
Main, an Auckland, New Zealand, native, punched his first-ever ticket to the Olympic Games with a remarkable 100-meter backstroke performance at the Canadian Olympic trials in Toronto on April 7. His qualifying effort came during the second day of competition when he clocked a 54.27 for the third-fastest time and an official FINA 'A' cut.
Rio BABBBYYY!!! #RoadToRio ????
— Corey Main (@CoreyMain2) April 6, 2016
Dan Wallace (Great Britain)
Wallace, who swam at UF from 2011-2015, has been selected for the Olympic Games as one of three 'wildcard' picks for Great Britain this summer. "Wild Card" picks are swimmers whose selections were based off their country's selection committee recommendations. They feel these individuals could act as relay alternates for swimmers with busy schedules ahead of the Olympics.
Wallace previously showcased as a member of team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014, bringing home first-place finishes in the 400-meter individual medley, in addition to runner-up placings in both the 200-meter individual medley and the 800-meter freestyle relay squads.
Form is temporary, class is permanent. I never gave up, thank you for believing. We're going to… https://t.co/sJTLqgypH9
— Dan Wallace (@danwallace_) April 21, 2016
Sebastien Rousseau (South Africa)
Rousseau had a strong start to the South African National Championship finals with an Olympic qualifying time on the opening night at the Kings Park pool in Durban, South Africa, on April 10.
Rousseau, who swam at UF from 2009-2014, came away with the top finish in the 400 individual medley, touching out with a first-place time of 4:14.75. The 2016 Rio Games will mark Rousseau's third Olympic appearance.
Qualified for my 3rd Olympics this past weekend, ?? ?? here we come. Can't wait to represent?? ?? (?? Steve Haag) pic.twitter.com/F0t0fuGP1B
— Sébastien Rousseau (@sebdrousseau) April 17, 2016
Hilda Luthersdottir (Iceland)
Luthersdottir had a remarkable showing at the Icelandic Swimming Championships from April 22nd-24th. Winning all six of her events (five individual, one relay), the Hafnarfjordur, Iceland, native punched her second Olympic ticket while doing so.
Luthersdottir, who swam at UF from 2010-2014, swam a the Rio-qualifying 'A' cut in the 200-meter breaststroke with a 2:26.71, touching out under the 2:26.94 automatic standard. She also brought home a trio of 'B' cuts in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:07.92), 200-meter Individual Medley (2:14.94), and 400-meter Individual Medley prelims (4:46.70).
100 days until Rio ???? #roadtorio #speedo #swimming https://t.co/yO2Vg3jHSW
— Hilda Luthersdottir (@HLuthersdottir) April 27, 2016
U.S. Olympic Trials:
The 2016 Olympic Trials rank as the biggest swimming event in the country and will select the 2016 U.S. Olympic Swim Team, which will represent Team USA in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The competition will take place at the CenturyLink Center Omaha from June 26 - July 3.
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