{"id":319607,"date":"2018-07-20T13:30:31","date_gmt":"2018-07-20T20:30:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=319607"},"modified":"2018-07-20T17:52:56","modified_gmt":"2018-07-21T00:52:56","slug":"qa-mexican-national-record-setter-gabe-castano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/qa-mexican-national-record-setter-gabe-castano\/","title":{"rendered":"Q&A With Mexican National Record-Setter Gabe Castano"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Abigail Sheridan, Swimming World College Intern.<\/em><\/p>\n

Gabe Castano<\/strong> – accomplished Pennsylvania State University sophomore and Monterrey, Mexico native – completes his fifth year as a competitive swimmer, adding the prestigious title of Mexican national champion to his accolades. He left Mexico\u2019s Long Course National Championships with five gold medals, winning both the 50 and 100 meter freestyles and three relays. <\/span>The Championships took place in Veracruz from July 5 to 9 at the Centro Acuatico Leyes de Reforma.<\/p>\n

Despite these feats in the pool, Castano’s swimming success did not start at a young age; his rise in the swimming world is a relatively recent one.\u00a0Previously, Castano was a cyclist and earned a national title at just five years old. While the\u00a0race may not have been as intense as those he swam in Veracruz, his sprinting ability has yet to falter.\u00a0He never imagined he would go so far with swimming and is glad he made the switch from cycling.<\/p>\n

\"gabe-castano-child\"

Photo Courtesy: Gabe Castano<\/p><\/div>\n

Castano only joined his high school’s swim team at at Allentown Central Catholic to try something new and meet friends as a freshman. Yet Castano quickly fell in love with the sport and trained with Parkland Aquatic Club, ending his high school career with both a Pennsylvania state title and record in the 50 freestyle. In the video below, Castano can be seen winning and setting the record.<\/p>\n