Spanish Olympian Hugo Gonzalez is representing Longhorn Aquatics at a meet this weekend, implying that the famous University of Texas nemesis is now training in rival territory.
Gonzalez, 26, won the 2024 World Championship in the 200 back against a diminutive field, and also picked up a silver medal in the 100 back.
Gonzalez began his college career at Auburn and, after a brief stop at Virginia Tech, re-emerged at Cal, often making dramatic arrivals late in the season to boost the Golden Bears’ title hopes. He swam his first meet of the 2022-2023 season, for example, on January 20, and would wind up scoring 50 individual points for Cal at the NCAA Championships – a meet they won by 52 ahead of Arizona State.
While his point total was not actually bigger than the gap from 1st to 2nd in either the 2022 or 2023 title runs, he has long been the target of ire from Longhorn faithful as a symbol of the perceived ability of Cal to turn up late season additions to boost their run in championship season.
Now, Gonzalez will represent the Longhorn brand in competition, at least for this weekend. Never afraid to shift his training, Gonzalez has often bounced between training groups in the U.S. and his native Spain throughout the year.
“It’s more of a trial,” Gonzalez told SwimSwam. “I trust Dave (Durden) and Cal’s program which is what has helped me achieve my best performances, but I figured that as a pro, the post Olympic season is the best time to try new things. I’ve been curious about the way Bob has brought out the best of his IMers.”
Texas coach Bob Bowman was at Arizona State in Gonzalez’s last collegiate season, and has shifted the Longhorns into an international training center of sorts – as juxtaposed to the Eddie Reese era, where international swimmers were uncommon in Austin waters.
Besides his medals at the World Championships last year, Gonzalez also has three medals at the 2021 European Championships, including gold in the 200 IM. He is the current Spanish Record holder in long course in the 50 back, 200 back, and 200 IM.
Sorry Bob, he’s already used his 27 years of eligibility.
Am I the only one worried about Bob being too stretched thin to make a huge impact on so many athletes?
Last time he had a super team it didn’t got to well
Before ASU, his college head coach experience didn’t go too well. Gonna say he’s probably learned something from the Club Wolverine and 2013ish NBAC days
It’s funny when Casas went 3:34.09, I remember looking at the SwimStats post on the top 10 400 SCY IMers of all time and thinking “Huh, Bob’s played a role in 7 of the top 10 guys all-time, that’s cool. Hugo is the only one that hasn’t trained with Bob”
Just rename the Olympics to Texas time trials 🤣
HUGO GONZALEZ is one of my Favorite Swimmers.
Randy
Couldn’t replicate barely breaking Aaron peirsol’s time as an 18 year old from damn near a quarter of a century ago at a cupcake and depleted worlds and then choked again at the Olympics so dipped on the team that allowed him to swim 8 years in college
You never fail to disappoint with your unhinged takes. Bravo sir
This entire article was Andrew-bait.
Have we figured out if ‘Andrew’ is really andrew seli posting the most hateful anti cal sentiment so that people get so worked up that they become diehard cal fans out of spite?
I thought he was an Eddie Reese burner account???
Definitely not Andrew Seliskar. Cannot rule out Andrew Lloyd Weber, however.
Andrew Lloyd Weber … The “phantom menace” some might say.
Good for Hugo! I’m happy for him. We Spanish want the best for him. He’s very talented.
‘Steen’ doesn’t sound Spanish …..
Casas popping off yet again