Ricardo Vargas of the University of Michigan men’s swimming and diving team qualified for the 2019 Pan American Games after winning four events at Mexico’s Arena Grand Prix de Natacion, held at the Complejo Acuático del Centro de Alto Rendimiento (April 11-15).
Vargas won and met the Pan American Games standard in the 400-meter freestyle (3:53.60), 1500-meter freestyle (15:37.38) and 400-meter IM (4:23.30).
He was also victorious in the 800-meter freestyle (8:07.13), though the men will not swim that event at the Games. He was also second in the 200-meter freestyle (1:51.64).
Vargas is no stranger to international competition. A national record holder in several events, he represented Mexico at the 2016 Olympics in Rio and at the 2017 FINA World Championships.
Vargas won four medals at last summer’s Central American and Caribbean Games, taking gold in the 1500-meter freestyle and 400-meter IM, and silver in the 400-meter freestyle and as part of the 4×200-meter freestyle relay.
He is the second Michigan swimmer to earn a trip to the Pan American Games, joining junior Charlie Swanson (USA).
The Pan Am Games will be held Aug. 6-10 in Lima, Peru.
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It has been a big week for Michigan swimmers.
The University of Michigan Athletic Department presented the Big Ten Medal of Honor to its 2018-19 recipients at its annual Student-Athlete Recognition Celebration on Monday evening, with seniors Siobhán Haughey (women’s swimming and diving) and Robbie Mertz (men’s soccer) receiving the honor based on their proficiency in scholarship and athletics.
The highest honor that a student competing in conference athletics can achieve in the Big Ten, the award was established in 1915 and was the first award in intercollegiate athletics to demonstrate support for the educational emphasis placed on athletics.
Haughey, a native of Hong Kong, is the department’s female recipient. She is the third student-athlete from the women’s swimming and diving program to earn the honor, joining Mindy Gehrs (1993) and Kim Johnson (1998).
Haughey represents Hong Kong internationally, reaching the semifinals of the 200-meter freestyle at the 2016 Olympics in Rio and finaling in the same event at the 2017 World Championships. Just yesterday in Hong Kong, she qualified for both the 2019 World Championships and 2020 Olympics.
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with the University of Michigan. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
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Congratulations
Andy Song