Bean Town Times

Harvard swimming and diving student-athlete Anthony Rincon won three gold medals at the 2021 South American Swimming Championships last week.

Rincon, who represented Colombia, won gold in the 50- and 100-meter backstroke events. And Colombia's 4x100 medley relay team also earned Colombia’s first gold medal in the event. Rincon swam the opening 100-meter backstroke leg.

"My favorite swim of the meet was definitely our 4x100 medley relay," Rincon said in a Harvard press release. "Historically, Colombia has never won a gold medal at the South American championships and is always the underdog in the event. Despite the fact that we weren't the favorites, our team came together to beat our Argentine and Brazilian rivals and took home the gold—Colombia's first ever."  

He also recorded a personal best of 55.91 seconds in the 100 backstroke. 

The 45th South American Swimming Championships, were held March 16-19 at the Parque Olímpico de la Juventud in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Ivy League, of which Harvard is a member, has conducted no intercollegiate sports during the 2020-21 school year due to concerns over COVID-19.