Seventeen Gator Swimmers Prepare for 2009 FINA World Championships
Friday, July 24, 2009 | Men's Swimming & Diving
A total of 17 University of Florida current and former swimmers, as well as two Gator swim coaches, are set to kick off swimming competition at the 13th FINA World Championships in Rome, Italy, Sunday. Representing 11 different countries, including the U.S., Great Britain and Puerto Rico, the Gator swimmers will take to the water July 26, competing in the week-long swimming portion of the World Championships that commenced July 17 and continue through Aug. 2.
Florida diving coach Donnie Craine kicked off the festivities in Rome, serving as a judge for the World Championship diving competitions, while the Gators prepare to kick off the eight-day swimming competition at the Stadio del Nuoto.
In addition to Florida's swimming athletes, associate head coach Anthony Nesty will serve as a coach for Cayman, while associate head coach Martyn Wilby will also be on deck to support the Gator athletes.
Among UF's competitors are seniors Shaune Fraser (George Town, Cayman Islands) and Gemma Spofforth (West Sussex, England), both multiple time national champions in 2009, representing Cayman and Great Britain, respectively, and 2009 senior Bradley Ally (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), who won the 200 IM at the 2009 NCAA Championships, representing Barbados.
Joining Spofforth on Team Great Britain, both Jemma Lowe, the 2009 SEC Champion in the 100 and 200-yard butterfly, and Marco Loughran, head to Worlds after stellar performances at the Scottish Nationals, one of Great Britain's qualifying meets for Worlds, each stealing titles in their respective butterfly and backstroke races.
Florida legends Dara Torres and Ryan Lochte will represent the United States after putting on a show at the 2009 U.S. National Championships in Indianapolis, Ind., the week of July 7, punching their tickets as members of Team U.S.A.
Morning sessions are scheduled to take place from 9-12:30 p.m. local time in Rome (3-5:30 a.m. ET), while finals span from approximately 6-8:30 p.m. (12-2:30 p.m. ET). Gator fans can follow swimming sessions live from the Stadio del Nuoto through the Omega Live Timing website here. For more information on the 2009 FINA World Swimming Championships, click here.
GATOR ATHLETES AT 2009 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SWIMMING
Bradley Ally (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) – Barbados
Rodion Davalaar (Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles) – Curacao
Brett Fraser (George Town, Cayman) – Cayman
Shaune Fraser (George Town, Cayman) – Cayman
Roberto Gomez (Weston, Fla.) – Venezuela
Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) – U.S.
Coral Lopez (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) – Puerto Rico
Marco Loughran (London, England) – Britain
Jemma Lowe (Hartlepool, England) – Britain
Raul Martinez (Caguas, Puerto Rico) – Puerto Rico
Ricardo Montesterio (Caracas, Venezuela) –Venezuela
Omar Pinzon (Bogota, Colombia) – Colombia
Anna Pold (San Diego, Calif.) – Estonia
Gemma Spofforth (West Sussex, England) – Britain
Dara Torres (Coral Springs, Fla.) – U.S.
Maida Turnadzic (Cape Coral, Fla.) – Bosnia
Bobby Walsh (Virginia Beach, Va.) – Philippines
Donnie Craine – FINA World Championships Diving judge
Anthony Nesty – Cayman
Martyn Wilby – Suriname
-UF-
