Sports in Puerto Rico: Encyclopedia II - Sports in Puerto Rico - Swimming competitive

Sports in Puerto Rico - Swimming competitive

Jesus "Jesse" Vassallo, is considered by many to be the greatest swimmer to have been born in Puerto Rico. In 1997, he became the first and so far the only Puerto Rican to be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

In 1966, 17 year old Anita Lallande set a new record in the Central American and Caribbean Games celebrated in San Juan, when she won a total of 10 gold medals.

Fernando J. Canales was a 100 meter freestyle finalist in the 1978 Berlin World Championships, earning a 5th place. He was the "first" Puerto Rican swimmer to final in the World Championships. He earned 5 gold medals and 1 silver medal during the 1978 Central American Championships in Medellin, Colombia. He became the first Puerto Rican to medal in the Pan American Games by winning silver in the 100 meters free in 1979 (San Juan, Puerto Rico) and repeating that feat in 1983 (Caracas, Venezuela).

Maritza Correia, is the first black Puerto Rican woman in history to make the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team. She earned a silver medal swimming prelims of the 4oom free relay at the 2004 Olympic Games celebrated in Athens, Greece.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Swimming competitive", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki