Ricardo David Vargas qualified for the Mexican Olympic Team after swimming a FINA “A” cut in the 1500 meter free at the Arena Pro Swim Series in Charlotte. Vargas swam the event in a time of 15:14.18, finishing .59 seconds under the standard of 15:14.77. Vargas finished 3rd in the event behind Connor Jaeger (14:59.13) and Zane Gothe (15:13.29).
At Mexican Nationals in 2015, Vargas set a new National Record in the 800 free in a time of 8:06.26. At the Arena Pro Swim Series in Austin, Vargas set another National Record in the 400 free. He clocked a 3:52.34 in the event, still 2 seconds off of the FINA “A” cut.
Vargas will be joining Long Gutierrez on the Mexican Olympic Team on the men’s side. Gutierrez swims for Cal Aquatics and at PAC-12 Championships in 2016 he was a part of three winning relays. Gutierrez qualified for the team in the 100 fly in a time of 52.22 that he swam at the US Nationals in San Antonio in 2015. He was just under the FINA “A” cut in the event of 52.36. Gutierrez also holds Mexican National Records in the 50 fly, 100 fly, and 200 free.
Lilana Ibanez is the only woman that has qualified for Rio for the Mexican women so far. Ibanez qualified for the London Olympic Games in 2012 in the 200 freestyle, coming in 26th place. Ibanez holds Mexican National Records in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle. Ibanez qualified for the Olympic Team last year at US Nationals with a time of 25.23 in the 50, only .05 under the FINA “A” cut.
