With the 2016 Olympic Games now less than 130 days away, the Spanish Swimming Federation (RFEN) has released its official roster of swimmers set to compete in Rio this summer.
The roster is based on the RFEN selection criteria, which included times achieved at the nation’s Olympic Trials/Open Nationals meet that took place in Sabadell March 19th-22nd. However, the criteria also points to the European Championships, slated for May 16th-22nd in London as an additional qualification meet, so look for possible additions to the roster, based on the performances of invited athletes. The lists at the bottom of the post are identified by “Rio” and “European Championships”.
The initial Spanish Olympic line-up is highlighted by 2012 double Olympic silver medalist Mireia Belmonte, who simply put on a show at the Spanish Olympic Trials. In Sabadell, Belmonte racked up national titles in the women’s 800m/1500m freestyle, 200m/400m IM and 200m butterfly events. She’s accustomed to taking on monster schedules at big meets, so a 4 or 5 race agenda in Rio is not out of the question for the 25-year-old.
Africa Zamorano is a budding star to watch, as the CN Sant Andreu swimmer notched 3 FINA A cuts while competing at the Spanish Open. Look for Zamorano to contest the women’s 200m IM and 400m IM, in addition to the 200m backstroke, an event in which she smashed a personal best time of 2:09.96 to be positioned as the 15th-fastest female in the world so far this season.
As for the men, Eduardo Solaeche-Gomez rocked a new 200m IM Spanish National Record in Sabadell, firing off a time of 1:58.80 to punch his ticket to Rio. Miguel Durán also made the most of his swims at Trials, registering a new Spanish Record in the 400m freestyle in a time of 3:48.96 to qualify for the Games.
RFEN Olympic Qualifying Criteria
Roster for 2016 Olympic Games:
Female team:
Mireia Belmonte (UCAM Fuensanta) Melani Costa (UCAM Fuensanta), Duane da Rocha (UCAM Fuensanta) Jessica Vall (CN Sant Andreu), Maria Vilas (CN Riveira) and Africa Zamorano (CN Sant Andreu).
Men’s Team:
César Castro (CN Plasencia), Miguel Durán (CN Sabadell), Hugo González (Real Canoe NC), Carlos Peralta (Real Canoe NC), Joan Lluís Pons (CN Palma de Mallorca) y Eduardo Solaeche (Real Canoe NC).
Roster for 2016 European Championships:
In individual events:
Female team:
Mireia Belmonte (UCAM Fuensanta) Melani Costa (UCAM Fuensanta), Duane da Rocha (UCAM Fuensanta), Judith Ignacio (CN Sabadell), Jimena Perez (CD Gredos San Diego), Jessica Vall (CN Sant Andreu), Maria Vilas (CN Riveira) and Africa Zamorano (CN Sant Andreu).
Men’s Team:
Antonio Arroyo (CN At.-Barceloneta), César Castro (CN Plasencia), Miguel Durán (CN Sabadell), Hugo González (Real Canoe NC), Carlos Peralta (Real Canoe NC), Joan Lluís Pons (CN Palma de Mallorca), Marc Sánchez (CN Sabadell) y Eduardo Solaeche (Real Canoe NC).
In relay events:
Female team:
Patricia Castro (CN Terrassa), Fatima Gallardo (CN Sabadell), Marta González (CN Sant Andreu) and Lidón Muñoz (EC Mediterranean).
Men’s Team:
Oskitz Aguilar (CD Bidasoa XXI), Markel Alberdi (CD Bidasoa XXI), Victor M. Martin (CN Churriana), Aitor Martinez (CN Sabadell), Miguel Ortiz-Cañavate (Real Canoe NC), Bruno Ortiz-Cañavate (Real Canoe NC ) and Albert Puig (CN Terrassa)
Correction – It’s Jessica Vall not Jessica Valley.
Good luck to all of the swimmers headed to London and Rio! Força Sant Andreu!