In Florida, swimmers tested their shape ahead of the National Olympiad 2010 to be held in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. The event will qualify swimmers for the Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Latina Cup, Challenger Cup and CAMEX.
Fernanda Gonzalez, who participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, won the gold medal in the 100m backstroke, with a time of 1:02.11, in close fight with Elizabeth Beisel (USA), who finished second in 1:02.21. Stephanie Proud, also from USA, placed third in 1:03.13.
Patricia Castañea, double medallist at the Pan American Games in Rio (2007), took gold in the 1,500m freestyle, clocking 16:43.42. Stephan Naasson (16:58.34) and Mexico’s Zaira Cardenas (17:13.13) finished in second and third place respectively.
A positive aspect of Mexico’s participation in Florida was that swimmers not ranked very high in the world hierarchy got the opportunity to compete against major figures of world swimming, such as Olympic medallist Ryan Lochte (USA).
Mexican swimmers bringing medals back home after the Speedo Champions Series were: Patricia Castañeda, Fernanda González, Zaira Cárdenas, Daniel Delgadillo, Arturo Pérez Vertti, Luis Escobar, Gerardo Bañuelos, Pablo Marmolejo, Adriana Marmolejo, David Oliver, Ezequiel Trujillo, Diana Luna, Miguel Robles, Ramírez Juárez, Rodríguez Villa and Ezequiel Trujillo.