Keepin' Up With The Gators: Pan American Games
Saturday, October 22, 2011 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Six Gators were in Guadalajara, Mexico to compete at the Pan American Games this past week. Four Florida swimmers claimed hardware in the week-long International competition. Both Conor Dwyer (Winnetka, Ill.) and Rex Tulius (Port Orange, Fla.) were on hand for the United States, brothers Brett and Shaune Fraser (George Town, Cayman Islands) represented the Cayman Islands and Roberto Gomez (Weston, Fla.) competed for Venezuela. Current junior Rodion Davelaar (Willemstad, Netherland Antilles) was also at the Pan American Games, as he represented the Netherland Antilles.
With the swimming competition under wraps, several Gators excelled in the pool. Brothers Brett and Shaune Fraser, Dwyer and Gomez combined to win two golds, three silvers and one bronze medal on the week.
Team USA finished first with 44 medals in the pool, including 18 gold, 18 silver and eight bronze, while Brazil took second with 24 medals off of 10 gold, eight silver and six bronze medals. Thanks to the Fraser brother who have collected a gold, silver and bronze between the two, the Cayman Islands finished fifth.
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Day 7: Friday, October 21
In the final day of swimming competition at the Pan American Games, Rex Tulius took to the pool in the 200-meter backstroke. The Gator won his morning preliminary heat in 2:03.82 to enter the finals as the third fastest swimmer in the event.
Tulius finished fourth out of the pool of competitors during the final round, touching the wall in 1:59.23.
Day 6: Thursday, October 20
The Fraser brothers are at it again on Thursday, as both competed this morning at the Scotiabank Aquatics Center. Brett finished fourth in the 50 free prelims with a time of 22.73, while Shaune clocked in at 53.83 in the 100 fly to also take fourth in his event. Later this evening the two will take to the pool to vie for another medal for the Cayman Islands.
Another Gator, in Gomez, will also move onto tonight's finals, as he finished 10th in the morning prelims of the 50 free. Gomez clocked a 23.11 to make his first finals appearance at the Pan American Games.
Following Thursday night's finals, Brett Fraser finished fifth in the 50 free (22.60), and fellow Gator Gomez finished fourth in the consolation final, 12th overall with a time of 23.12. Shaune took sixth in the 100 fly after he touched the wall in 52.96.
Day 5: Wednesday, October 19
In Wednesday's 200 IM morning prelims Dwyer finished atop all competitors with a time of 2:04.56, entering the finals in first place.
When the Gator took to the pool for finals, he once again found himself behind Brazil's Thiago Pereira. Dwyer clocked a 1:58.64 to earn his second silver medal of the meet and move to ninth in the world rankings.
Dwyer also took to the pool in the final event of the night to capture his first gold at this year's Pan American Games as a member of the men's 800 free relay, swimming the first leg of the relay in 1:47.62.Teammates Scot Robionson, Charlie Houchin and Matt Patton soon followed to help propel the U.S. into first place, finishing in 7:15.07 for the win.
Day 4: Tuesday, October 18
In the 200 free, brothers and NCAA Champions Brett and Shaune, won their respective heats with marks of 1:50.75 and 1:50.27. Entering the finals both Cayman swimmers led the pool of competitors sitting in second and first, respectively.
The trend seemed apparent, as the duo finished one-two in the men's 200-meter freestyle at the Pan American Games. Brett captured his first gold medal of the Games after he finished the race just ahead of Shaune in a personal-best 1:47.18. Shaune took silver in the event, finishing in 1:48.29.
Day 3: Monday, October 17
No Gators competed in Monday's events.
Day 2: Sunday, October 16
The Fraser brothers are slated to compete alongside one another in two events: the 100- and 200-meter freestyle. On Sunday, both progressed to the finals in the 100 free after Shaune took third in the morning prelims with a 49.00 mark, and Brett finished fifth in 49.16, winning his heat.
In the evening finals, neither Fraser shifted in the standings as Shaune (48.63) remained in third and Brett (49.07) took fifth yet again.
Davelaar, who represented the Netherland Antilles in the past two FINA World Championships and at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, made his Pan-American debut this week in Guadalajara. In the men's 100-meter breaststroke, the All-American finished 23rd, touching the wall in 1:08.07.
As part of Venezuela's 4x100-meter men's freestyle relay team, Gomez helped propel his team to the finals. The two-time All-American swam the second leg and fastest split for Venezuela in the preliminary heat. Although Gomez did not participate in the final race, he earned a bronze medal as his team took third in the event behind Brazil and the United States.
Day 1: Saturday, October 15
Dwyer, a member of the U.S. National team, captured silver in the 400 IM after he finished behind Brazil's Thiago Pereira in 4:18.22. His medal on the opening day of competition, along with teammate Robert Margaliz who took bronze, allowed the United States to accrue 14 medals on the day – nine of which came from competition in the pool.
During the morning prelims the Gator All-American bested Pereira by more than two seconds, finishing in 4:24.98.
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The swimming portion of the Pan American Games will run until Friday, October 21, 2011. Morning sessions are scheduled to take place 11:00 a.m. ET, with finals slated at 7:00 p.m. Fans can visit the official website of the Pan American Games here.
For all the latest information about Florida Swimming and Diving continue to check www.GatorZone.com. Gator fans are also encouraged to follow the swimming and diving program via Twitter or Facebook.
GATOR INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: PAN AMERICAN GAMES
RODION DAVELAAR
Men's 100-meter Breast (prelims – no advance): 23rd, 1:08.07
CONOR DWYER
Men's 400-meter Individual Medley (prelims – advances to finals): 1st, 4:24.98
Men's 400-meter Individual Medley (finals):2nd, 4:18.22
Men's 200-meter Individual Medley (prelims – advances to finals): 1st, 2:04.56
Men's 200-meter Individual Medley (finals): 2nd, 1:58.64
Men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay (finals): 1st, 7:15.07, 1:47.62 split
BRETT FRASER
Men's 100-meter Freestyle (prelims – advances to finals): 5th, 49.16
Men's 100-meter Freestyle (finals): 5th, 49.07
Men's 200-meter Freestyle (prelims – advances to finals): 2nd, 1:50.75
Men's 200-meter Freestyle (finals): 1st, 1:47.18*
Men's 50-meter Freestyle (prelims – advances to finals): 4th, 22.73
Men's 50-meter Freestyle (finals): 5th, 22.60
SHAUNE FRASER
Men's 100-meter Freestyle (prelims – advances to finals): 3rd, 49.00
Men's 100-meter Freestyle (finals):3rd, 48.63
Men's 200-meter Freestyle (prelims – advances to finals): 1st, 1:50.27
Men's 200-meter Freestyle (finals): 2nd, 1:48.29
Men's 100-meter Butterfly (prelims – advances to finals): 4th, 53.83
Men's 100-meter Butterfly (finals): 6th, 52.96
ROBERTO GOMEZ
Men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay (prelims – advances to finals): 3rd, 3:27.20, 50.24 split
>>The Venezuelan 4x100-meter freestyle relay team finished third overall however, Gomez did not swim in the finals.
Men's 50-meter Freestyle (prelims – advances to finals): 10th, 23.11
Men's 50-meter Freestyle (finals): 12th, 23.12
REX TULIUS
Men's 200-meter Backstroke (prelims – advances to finals): 1st, 2:03.82
Men's 200-meter Backstroke (finals): 4th, 1:59.23
*Indicates personal record
