Mexico’s best backstroker, Pan Ams finalist and 2012 Olympian Fernanda Gonzalez, is training with world record-holder Missy Franklin and coach Todd Schmitz of the Colorado Stars.
Gonzalez (legally Maria Fernanda Gonzalez Ramirez) appeared on the psych sheets for the Plantation Sectional alongside Franklin, with both representing the Colorado Stars, and Schmitz confirmed to SwimSwam that Gonzalez has been training in Colorado alongside Franklin since October of last year.
“She reached out to me in September and joined us in October,” said Schmitz. “She has been a great addition. She’s a very hard worker.”
Gonzalez holds every Mexican backstroking record, with the nation’s top time in history in the 50, 100 and 200 backstrokes in both short course and long course.
Last summer, she was an A finalist in both backstroke events at the Pan American Games, taking 6th in the 100 and 8th in the 200. Those results were despite a scuffle with the Mexican Olympic Committee over swimsuit brands – Gonzalez didn’t wear the brand of suit the federation provided, claiming it wasn’t her size and didn’t fit her right. In response, the federation threatened to send her home from the meet.
Gonzalez’s move to Colorado seems like an ideal fit for both herself and Franklin. Mexico has canceled its Olympic Trials, meaning Gonzelez will likely be looking for her Olympic qualifying spot through another competition, possibly one of the Arena Pro Swim Series meets in the United States.
Franklin, meanwhile, returned to the Colorado club that launched her career as an age grouper after two years swimming at the University of California. That reconnected her with longtime coach Schmitz, but did take away her opportunity to train alongside Cal’s legion of great backstrokers. Gonzalez’s presence gives both swimmers international-level training partners for a full year leading up to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
