Andres Arroyo, in the red top, during the 800 semifinals at the Rio Summer Olympics in 2016. (Photo: USA TODAY SPORTS))
Gators In Olympic Games: Andres Arroyo
Saturday, July 24, 2021 | Track and Field, Scott Carter, Olympics
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Baseball is back on the schedule at the Tokyo Olympics after a hiatus. Meanwhile, Andres Arroyo was a speedy outfielder at Colonial High School in Orlando a decade ago and is back in the Olympics, too.
However, his days carrying a bat and glove around ended his junior year of high school when he ran an exceptional time in the 800 meters.
Arroyo made a choice. He gave up baseball to focus on track.
Good decision.
Arroyo is in Tokyo preparing for another shot at Olympic glory. A native of Puerto Rico, Arroyo is a member of the Puerto Rican National Team once again after becoming the first Puerto Rican runner to make the 800 semifinals at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Arroyo finished 22nd among 58 runners. Five years later, the 26-year-old Arroyo seeks to move up the standings in one of track's most grueling events.
Whatever happens, Arroyo has come a long way since his days on the diamond.
Gainesville. Rio. And now, Tokyo.
Andres Arroyo is competing in his second Olympic Games as a member of the Puerto Rican National Team. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
AT A GLANCE Andres Arroyo in action during his Gators career from 2014-17. (Photo: Beth Hall/UAA Communications) SPORT: Men's Track and Field
EVENT: 800 meters
HOW HE QUALIFIED: Arroyo secured his spot on the Puerto Rico Olympic Team in May 2019 at the Stars & Stripes Classic in Marietta, Ga., when he posted an Olympic qualifying time in the 800 with a run of 1:44.96, which also improved his personal-record in the event.
TOKYO SCHEDULE: July 31 — Men's 800 (Round 1 begins); Aug. 4 — Men's 800 Olympic Final.
UF CAREER: A four-time indoor and three-time outdoor All-American in the 800 meters during his college career from 2014-17. As a junior, Arroyo broke the school's 26-year-old indoor record in the 800 meters when he finished in 1 minutes, 46.20 seconds at the 2016 SEC Indoor Championships. Arroyo has the second-fastest outdoor time in the 800 meters (1:44.98).
NEED TO KNOW: A former center fielder, Arroyo began to jog to improve his speed and endurance in baseball. As a sophomore at Colonial High School in Orlando, he started to run the 800 and is now competing in his second Olympic Games. As a senior in high school, Arroyo was clocked at 1:47.79 during the 2013 Florida Relays to become just one of six U.S. high schoolers to run the 800 in under 1:48.
QUOTE OF NOTE: "I am where I am today because of the environment I had in Puerto Rico, Orlando and Gainesville. Those same tools are available to kids today, and if I can do it, so can they." -- Arroyo to the Gainesville Sun on being a two-time Olympian
