Omar Pinzon is working his way toward his third Olympics before the age of 25, dominating the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games is just all part of the process.
Pinzon, a former Gator who recently exhausted his NCAA eligibility, won four gold medals and two bronze medals at the meet in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The 17-time All-American represented his native Columbia by setting meet records in the 50-meter backstroke, 200-meter backstroke and the 800-meter freestyle relay.
“I was really proud to win the 50-meter backstroke,” Pinzon said. “It wasn’t an event I came in expecting to win, but I took it on as a personal challenge and I ended up setting the record.”
Pinzon wasn’t the only Florida swimmer that had a successful meet, as seven other past and present Gators combined to win 11 medals.
“This is a premier meet for our guys from Latin American and Caribbean countries,” UF coach Gregg Troy said. “The meet gives our program great exposure and the athletes get invaluable international experience against some of the top collegiate swimmers in the world.”
Bradley Ally, a 23-time All-American, set meet records with gold-medal wins in the men’s 200-and- 400-meter individual medleys. The decorated swimmer (third-most All-America recognitions in school history) represented Barbados in the games and was its flag bearer at the opening ceremonies.
Brothers Brett and Shaune Fraser represented the Cayman Islands and won two medals each. Brett, a rising senior at UF, took second in both the 200-meter backstroke and freestyle. Shaune, a former NCAA Champion, set a meet record with a gold-medal win in the 200-meter freestyle, edging out his younger brother.
Former Gator Roberto Gomez joined three other countrymen from Venezuela to win the 400-meter freestyle relay, setting a meet record. The 2008 Olympian also captured bronze in the 50-meter freestyle.
Rodion Davelaar, Raul Martinez and Coral Lopez each took home one medal a piece. The sophomore Davelaar earned silver in the 50-meter breaststroke with a personal-best of 28.61.
As for Pinzon, a 2004 and 2008 Olympian, he also captured gold in the 200-meter butterfly, while rounding out the meet with third-place finishes in the 200-meter individual medley and 400-meter medley relay.
With his eyes set on London in 2012, the All-American swimmer is training more than ever, but he was quick to allude that his successes have much to do with his time at Florida.
“The reason I’m here breaking all these records is because of the training, coaching and such at UF,” he said.
The CAC Games take place every four years and are the oldest regional games under the umbrella of the International Olympic Committee. Mexico hosted the first meet in 1926.
