Cuban swimmer Andrea Becali bid farewell to her Olympic medal dream this Sunday after failing to advance to the semifinals in the 200-meter freestyle.
The 20-year-old competed in lane eight in the fourth and final preliminary heat, where she faced off against seasoned swimmers like the Australian Ariarne Titmus, the current world record holder and gold medalist from Tokyo 2020. Andrea clocked a time of 2:03.38 minutes, placing her last in her heat, and was the only competitor who did not break the two-minute mark. She also fell significantly short of her personal best of 2:00.70.
The event was won by Canadian swimmer M.S. Harvey with a time of 1:56.21, followed closely by Titmus at 1:56.23. The top 16 fastest swimmers advanced to the semifinals.
Born in Havana, Becali entered her first Olympic Games with a record that includes two bronze medals in the 2023 Central American Games for the 100 and 200 meters. She was also a two-time individual finalist in the Pan American Games. This year, at the swimming world championships in Doha, Qatar, she achieved a time of 2:21.54 in the backstroke, placing her 28th.
Now, Cuba's only remaining hopes in swimming rest on Rodolfo Falcón Jr. According to the specialized magazine Jit, both athletes are in Paris thanks to the universal invitation by World Aquatics, based on their times (Andrea's 02:00.70 and Falcón's 15:49.72 in the 1,500 meters), which accrued 817 and 771 points respectively in relation to the world record for their events.
The regulations of World Aquatics stipulate that athletes must not exceed 30 years of age and must not have participated in more than two Olympic Games without achieving the "A" qualifying standard set by the federation.
Andrea Becali's Olympic Journey
Here are some frequently asked questions about Andrea Becali's performance and journey in the Olympics.
Who is Andrea Becali?
Andrea Becali is a 20-year-old Cuban swimmer who competed in her first Olympic Games. She has won two bronze medals in the 2023 Central American Games.
What was Andrea Becali's time in the 200-meter freestyle?
Andrea Becali's time in the 200-meter freestyle was 2:03.38 minutes, which placed her last in her heat.
What are the qualifications for the World Aquatics universal invitation?
The World Aquatics universal invitation is based on athletes' times relative to world records, with additional regulations stipulating that they must be under 30 years old and not have participated in more than two Olympics without achieving the "A" qualifying standard.