One Horned Frog athlete from the men’s swimming and diving team was picked to represent his home country at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Senior business major, Edgar Crespo is one of two swimmers that will represent Team Panama during the competition that lasts from Oct. 14 through Oct. 30.
Crespo is the TCU record holder for the 100- and 200-breaststroke, and he qualified for the NCAA Championship two consecutive years. His performance at the Pan American Games will strengthen his career as a swimmer, he said.
“My goal is to improve my time [for the Olympics] and to be in the top three,” Crespo said. “That is what I want.”
TCU was the first university Crespo decided to visit, and the senior said he made the right decision.
With the expertise of coaches, consistent support and training, Crespo said he is proud to be a Horned Frog.
But this trip to Mexico will not be the first time Crespo has competed in an international event.
Crespo competed in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing where he won his heat of the 100-meter breaststroke but did not qualify for the semifinals.
The Horned Frog is one of three TCU swimmers who have competed in the Olympics.
Fellow Frog Lili Guiscardo also participated in the games at Beijing where she swam for Argentina. Walter Soza represented Nicaragua at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
“Edgar is an elite athlete, and it is an honor to have him in our program competing for TCU and Panama in international competition,” head swimming and diving coach Richard Sybesma said.
Crespo also competed in four events last summer at the 14th FINA World Swimming Championships.
He swam against some of the world’s best swimmers and set his own personal best in the 50-breastroke, 100-breastroke and 200-breastroke.
The Panama native is currently ranked No. 54 in the world for the 50-breast and No. 96 for the 100-breast.
Crespo will travel and swim with his TCU team Friday and Saturday in South Bend, Ind.
After meets against Notre Dame, Michigan and Oakland, Crespo will fly from Indiana straight to Mexico in hopes of qualifying for the 2012 Olympics.
His first meet in the Pan American games is Sunday morning.
