Rodolfo Falcón Jr gives Cuba silver medal in Pan American open water competition

March 22, 2023

Young swimmer Rodolfo Falcón Jr. gave Cuba the silver medal in the second stop of the Pan American Open Water Series, held in Puerto Rico.

Falcón Jr., son of the most prominent Cuban swimmer in history, clocked 1:11.21.18 hours in the 5 kilometers, according to information provided to the digital site Jit by national swimming commissioner Nelson García.

The Havana native achieved second place in a photo-finish, in which Venezuelan Santiago Bello prevailed (1:11.20.83), while Mexican Daniel Castillo (1:11.21.54) finished third.

Following this event, another close competition is expected in the 10-kilometer distance, notes the sports publication.

At the event, held at the Olympic facility in Salinas, organized by Panam Sports, swimmers from several nations participate, including Venezuela, Ecuador, Mexico, Honduras, Jamaica and Guatemala, in addition to locals and the young Cuban.

The athletes, according to Jit, are training at this location with a view to the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, for which Falcón Jr. has already secured his spot in open water, which he conquered during the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Swimming Championship in Barbados.

The son of the silver medalist in the 100-meter backstroke at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, is also a recognized specialist in long-distance pool swimming.

Falcón Jr. posted a time of 16:02.43 minutes in the 1500 at the 2022 Budapest world championship, a time that must be validated for the event in the Salvadoran capital, the report indicates.

For this multi-sport event, Cuban swimming also has the spots of freestyle swimmer Elisbet Gámez, backstroker Andrea Becali and breaststroker Julio Calero, all participants in the past world championship, concludes Jit.