Twelve athletes from the Costa Rica Federation of Aquatic Sports are competing at the World Aquatics Championships - Fukuoka 2023. Eight are artistic swimmers, two are pool swimmers, and two compete in open water, including Jeison Rojas.
To support his training leading up to the world championships, Rojas, 20, qualified for a World Aquatics scholarship.
“The President of my federation told me about this scholarship,” Rojas said. “I knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I have to go for it.”
So far, it has been vital to advancing his career.
“This scholarship is going to change everything,” he realized. ”Sometimes transportation is very difficult. My training place is far from home. Also, travelling to competitions is very challenging.”
In the past, Rojas has qualified for events that he couldn’t attend because of the expense. “With this scholarship I can now attend these events,” he said. “This will ease the load on my parents.”
Rojas trains at the Crol Swimming Institute in the capital city of San Jose. He began when he was 7.
“I was overweight and my parents recommended that I take swimming lessons,” he said. Rojas quickly fell in love with swimming, and his coaches took note.
“I started climbing, first the pre-team, then the swim team,” he said. “I'm very proud of [how far] I've gotten, but it's just the beginning. The truth is, at this moment I don't see a life for Jeison Rojas without swimming.”
In the 10km at Momochi Beach Park in Fukuoka on Sunday, July 16, Rojas finished 50th out of 65 open water swimmers.
“The 10km was hard,” Rojas said, but “I enjoyed it. I felt comfortable. I feel like I had control of the race. It was a very-very good experience. I feel really good about my result.”
Rojas’ hero, Gregorio Paltrinieri of Italy, was also in the 10km race. Both Rojas and the 2016 Olympic gold medalist in 1500m finished outside of the medals. Paltrinieri finished fifth behind the winner, Florian Wellbrock of Germany. Rojas finished 13 minutes 52 seconds behind the German ace.
Two days later, in the 5km Rojas placed 53rd of the 63 finishers.
“I felt better in the 5km,” Rojas said. “I could be better, of course, but I am always swimming my hardest to represent my country.” This time, Paltrinieri won in 53 minutes 38 seconds. Rojas finished 7 minutes 30 seconds behind his hero.
Like many open water swimmers, Rojas also competes in freestyle events in the pool. He achieved his best pool results last November at the 39th Invitacional Internacional Delfines del NACO in the Dominican Republic, where he placed second in 1500m and third in 400m.
Looking ahead, Rojas’ next major open water competition will be the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile in November.
Beyond that, Rojas predicts that in February, at the 2024 World Championships in Doha, Qatar, he will perform better than in Japan.
“I came to Fukuoka with the best expectations,” he said, but two weeks earlier, he competed in the 5km, 10km, and open water relay at the Central American Games. “All that plus the trip to Fukuoka takes a toll on the body. I am happy with [my] results but not entirely satisfied. We are going for more in Doha.”
As for the rest of his stay in Japan,” Rojas planned to rest and enjoy the Japanese culture. “I like Ramen so I'm going to try some in Fukuoka,” he said.