July 19, 2017
The best in the swimming world are in Budapest for the 2017 FINA World Championships, July 23-30, and this year there will be nine current or former Auburn swimmers competing.
"World Championships are another moment where the best of the best compete against each other head-to-head," Auburn head coach Brett Hawke said. "I am eager to see how our athletes perform against the best in the world again this summer."
Zach Apple, who will be a junior at Auburn this fall, and Zane Grothe, who competed at Auburn from 2010-14, both swam their way on to the United States team during the 2017 Phillips 66 National Championships earlier this month in Indianapolis. Apple, from Trenton, Ohio, finished fourth in the 100m freestyle and will swim on the USA's 4x100 freestyle relay. Grothe, from Boulder City, Nev., will compete in the 400 freestyle, 800 freestyle and 4x200 freestyle relay.
Sunday's 4x100 Free Relay will also feature Marcelo Chierighini and Cesar Cielo, both from Brazil, and Peter Holoda of Hungary.
Current swimmers Santiago Grassi of Argenina, Luis Martinez of Guatemala and Julie Meynen of Luxembourg will vie for individual medals. Grassi and Martinez are both in the butterfly events while Meynen is in the sprint freestyle events.
Natasha Lloyd, who completed her Auburn swimming career this past spring, will swim the breaststroke events and on New Zealand's 4x100 medley relay.
Cielo is a veteran of international competition and has won six medals at World Championships, all of them gold, which includes the top spot in the 50 free three times (2009, 2011, 2013).
Lauren Hancock, who is the associate head coach for women at Auburn, will be Martinez' coach in Budapest.
The swimming competition, which takes place during the second week of the games, will be held at the Danube Arena.
Live results can be found online at www.omegatiming.com.
Athlete (Years at Auburn) -- Country - World Championship Events
Zach Apple (2015-present) -- USA - 4x100 Free Relay
Marcelo Chierighini (2010-14) -- Brazil -- 100 Free, 4x100 Free Relay
Cesar Cielo (2005-08) -- Brazil -- 50 Free, 4x100 Free Relay
Santiago Grassi (2016-present) -- Argentina -- 50 Fly, 100 Fly
Zane Grothe (2010-14) -- USA - 400 Free, 800 Free, 4x200 Free Relay
Peter Holoda (2014-present) -- Hungary -- 4x100 Free Relay
Natasha Lloyd (2013-17) -- New Zealand -- 100 Breast, 200 Breast, 4x100 Medley Relay
Luis Martinez (2015-present) -- Guatemala -- 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 200 Fly
Julie Meynen (2016-present) -- Luxembourg -- 50 Free, 100 Free