Anicka Delgado Using Ecuador Record as Motivation for Final USC Season, Paris Olympics
Anicka Delgado wasn’t sure what to expect when she stepped onto the blocks for the 100 butterfly at the 2023 Pan American Games.
The Ecuadorian swimmer had changed her main focus to the sprint freestyle events and had also just started her senior college season at USC.
So when she got to Santiago, Chile, for the meet, she had little taper and little expectations.
But she had a lot of racing in her and sprinted her way to the Ecuador national record in the 100 butterfly, besting a minute for the first time in her career.
“I have been training with USC. This was a big meet for me on an international scale, but not as big of a priority on the collegiate scale. So there was no big taper for this meet. That had me feeling a little worries because I wanted to perform well. I went in trusting everything we put in,” Delgado told Swimming World. “I really want to focus on the 50 free and I almost scratched the 100 butterfly. I just went into it hopeful and ended up breaking a minute, which has been my goal forever. That was a huge accomplishment for me. On top of that, it broke the national record.”
It was the 13th national record Delgado has turned in since starting to swim internationally for Ecuador at age 13.
The swim also has her in line to make the 2024 Paris Olympics, though that could change based on performances from Ecuador in the coming year. If Delgado gets an Olympic A or B cut, she will qualify automatically, but without a cut, it is based on FINA points in each country and Delgado would have to be the top swimmer in an event from Ecuador to qualify for her second Olympics.
“Right now it is based off FINA points. But if I have the top FINA points in the country, I have to maintain that,” she said. “So I decided that the 50 free will be my focus. Overall, I thought it was an awesome meet. I love meets where I can get there and race and not have a long training camp. I like getting right into racing. It is one of my favorite places to compete. I think it set me up well for the college season and preparing for Paris.”
Delgado broke the 100 butterfly record during the heats, going a 59.79. She ended up eighth in the finals. She also went a 25.4 in the 50 free.
“I was hoping to go a little faster on that. I need to work on more power and aerobic work I have always been such a pure sprinter,” Delgado said. “My body is made for the 50. It sparks a motivation in me. It lights a fire that makes me want to swim a really fast 50. Being able to swim the sprints and focus on training is great for the college season. They can use me in any of the relays. Having those girls there to push me and seeing that front-end speed will help.”
She also has some of the fastest feet in the water.
“I have fast footspeed. I always thought if I wasn’t a swimmer that I would be a track sprinter,” she said.
But at age 13, she realized that swimming for Ecuador was what she wanted to do, just like her father, Felipe Delgado, who swam in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. It has created a huge layer of bonding between them.
“I have been competing for Ecuador since I was about 13. I went to Tokyo and it was an amazing experience. I really want to make the country super proud. They put so much into me. I want to give back and would love to make a second swim in the semifinals,” she said. “My father trained me for Tokyo. I wasn’t supposed to train with him. But we did seven weeks of training. Then two weeks before the games, COVID happened. Then it turned into two weeks. He knows what my body needs. I knew what I needed to do on the blocks. That made our relationship grow. We got the Olympic rings tattoo together. Hopefully this summer, I will get some more training with him.”
But until then, it is back to USC for Delgado’s senior season with the Trojans.
“I have had an amazing student-athlete experience,” she said. “My junior year I have been swimming well. I did expect more out of my times. I wasn’t disappointed with it, but I am really putting my head down and focusing because it is potentially my last year. I want to put everything out there. Our team here is so amazing. I am thinking about a fifth year. I am definitely going to keep swimming through that and we will go from there.”
A factor in Delgado’s decision to continue past Paris in 2024 has been the opportunities opened up by the NCAA NIL ruling, allowing athletes to profit from their name and likeness. Delgado has endorsed some products and also done some modeling work, something she would like to continue.
“I have really been able to take advantage of NIL and use that as a resource. I have been lucky enough to use their resources. I have done some modeling gigs and some other things to earn some spending money. I have been able to explore some hobbies and interest. I am lucky to have been able to explore and find myself outside of swimming. I have realized I am more than just a swimmer,” Delgado said. “I am studying to work in a creative agency, which I wouldn’t have figured out without modeling. I have always been interested in modeling, but I couldn’t because of swimming. Beauty and swimming don’t always go hand in hand when you are walking off the deck soaking with ratty hair. But it is something that has come naturally for me. The hardest thing has been scheduling and learning how to balance everything with school and swimming.
“You see these photos and it is an art form. Being able to take part in art, someone else’s vision is really inspiring. I love that side of the industry.”
That art could allow Delgado to swim past 2024, but right now, her focus is on finishing her USC career strong and propelling her to Paris.
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Felipe was part of a Men’s double-header sprint monster for ASU in the mid-90s. Francisco Sanchez (Venezuela) was a SCM world champion and won multiple NCAA titles. Felipe also made it to the NCAA top-three podium.
Annika won the 100 SCY Butterfly in the USC @. ASU meet this weekend. She was :52.64, over a second ahead of tied Sun Devils Lindsay Looney and Jade Foelske who each touched at :54.06. Annika’s season best is :52.25, putting her #10 in current ratings.