Former University of Georgia swimmer Javier Acevedo was selected Thursday morning for the Canadian national swimming team at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Acevedo will represent Canada for the second-consecutive Olympic Games, previously finishing 33rd in the 100-meter backstroke in 2016 in Rio. For this year’s Games, the Scarborough, Ontario native will be eligible to compete in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay, following a fourth-place time of 49.32 in the 100-meter final Tuesday evening at the Canadian Olympic Trials in Toronto.
Acevedo competed in four events at the Canadian Trials, placing third in both the 100-meter backstroke (54.49) and 200-meter IM (2:00.77), along with a sixth-place prelims time of 2:03.10 in the 200-meter backstroke. He will be one of 10 male Canadian swimmers competing in Tokyo, with a full roster of 26 swimmers traveling to the Games.
Acevedo recently completed a terrific career with the Bulldogs, earning 17 All-America citations over his career (2016-21). This past season, he reached the A final in three events at the NCAA Championships and earned his second career SEC individual title in the 100-yard backstroke. He currently holds school records in the 200-yard backstroke, 200-yard freestyle relay, 400-yard freestyle relay, 200-medley relay, and 400-medley relay, along ranking second in the 100-yard backstroke. He graduated from Georgia in May with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology.
With the addition of Acevedo, nine former members of the Georgia swimming and diving program have qualified for the Tokyo Games, along with the appointment of Tom Cousins Head Coach Jack Bauerle as a U.S. assistant coach. The seven swimming alums named to the United States team marked the most of any NCAA program.
The 2020 Summer Olympic Games commence in Tokyo with the Opening Ceremonies on Friday, July 23, with the swimming competition running Saturday, July 24 through Sunday, Aug. 1. The women’s 10-meter platform competition begins with prelims on Wednesday, Aug. 4, followed by semifinals and finals the following day.
For all news and updates about Georgia swimming and diving, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter (@UGASwimDive), Instagram (@ugaswimdive), and Facebook (UGA Swimming and Diving).
GEORGIA OLYMPIANS
United States
Jack Bauerle – men’s assistant coach (sixth appearance)
Gunnar Bentz – 200m butterfly
Nic Fink – 200m breaststroke
Hali Flickinger – 200m butterfly, 400m IM
Natalie Hinds – 4x100m freestyle relay*
Chase Kalisz – 200m IM, 400m IM
Jay Litherland – 400m IM
Allison Schmitt – 200m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay
Olivia Smoliga – 4x100m freestyle relay
Andrew Wilson – 100m breaststroke, 200m breaststroke*
Singapore
Freida Lim – 10m platform diving
Canada
Javier Acevedo – 4x100m freestyle relay
*Denotes post-graduates training with Athens Bulldog Swim Club pro group under Coach Bauerle
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