Ricardo Vargas

View Current photo via Courtesy of Jack Spitser

Ricardo Vargas is a competitive swimmer who represents Mexico internationally. Vargas is a Pan American bronze medalist and 2016 Olympian.

College (Michigan)

2017-2018

Vargas was an immediate impact freshman for the Blue. At the 2018 Big Ten Champs, he finished 2nd in the 500 freestyle (4:11.11) and in the 1,650 (14:40.30) and 3rd in the 400 IM (3:43.73).

Qualifying for the NCAA’s, Vargas swam the same 3 events. He finished 7th in the 1,650 (14:40.27), 8th in 500 (4:17.23) and 29th in the 400 IM (3:45.64).

2018-2019

Vargas continued to be a huge point scorer at both the conference and national level in his sophomore campaign. At Big Tens, he finished 2nd in the 500 (4:11.72) and 400 IM (3:40.24), and 3rd in the 1,650 (14:31.76), going lifetime bests in the latter two events.

At NCAA’s, he finished 4th in 500 (4:12.21), 10th in 400 IM (3:42.32) and 22nd in 1,650 (14:51.71).

2019-2020

At the Big 10 Champs his Junior year, Vargas finished 3rd in the 500 free (4:11.80), 2nd in the 400 IM (3:42.68), and 2nd in the mile (14:39.48).

National/International Competition

2016 Summer Olympics (Rio de Janiero, Brazil)

Vargas swam the 1500 free at the Summer Olympics, finishing 25th in a Mexican national record time of 15:11.53.

2019 Pan American Games (Lima, Peru)

In Lima, Vargas earned his first major international medals, touching for bronze in both the 800 free (7:56.78) and 1500 free (15:14.99).

2019 Swammy Awards

After his double-bronze medal haul from the Pan American Games, Vargas earned the CAC Male Swimmer of the Year Swammy Award.

International Medals

Place Event Year Meet
Bronze 800 Free 2019 Pan American Championships
Bronze 1500 Free 2019 Pan American Championships

Best Times

Course Event Time Date Meet
scy 500 Free 4:11.11 02/22/18 2018 Men's B1G Champs
Columbus, Ohio
scy 1650 Free 14:31.76 03/02/19 2019 Men's B1G Champs
Iowa City, Iowa
scy 400 IM 3:40.24 03/01/19 2019 Men's B1G Champs
Iowa City, Iowa
lcm 800 Free 7:56.78 08/08/19 Pan American Games
Lima, Peru
lcm 1500 Free 15:11.53 08/12/16 Olympic Games
Rio de Janiero, Brazil
lcm 400 IM 4:19.98 07/25/18 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games
Barranquilla, Colombia
Ricardo Vargas Jacobo (photo: Jack Spitser) Ricardo Vargas Jacobo (photo: Mike Lewis) Ricardo Vargas Jacobo (photo: Jack Spitser) Ricardo Vargas Jacobo (photo: Jack Spitser) Ricardo Vargas Jacobo (photo: Jack Spitser) Ricardo Vargas Jacobo (photo: Jack Spitser)