The Colombian who became the best artistic swimmer in the world

Colombian swimmer Gustavo Adolfo Sánchez has recently achieved what no other national athlete had achieved in his discipline. The Vallecaucano was crowned champion at the Paris Open for Artistic Swimming, after recording 80,8667 points, beating Italian Nicolo' Ogliari, who won the Silver medal with 79,0667 points, and Puerto Rican Javier Enrique Ruisánchez, who won the Bronze with 65,6333 points.

The joy is more than noticeable in the swimmer, who has seen the fruits of his efforts just a few days ago. Since he was a child he played sports, he tried himself in several disciplines, but it was synchronized swimming that ended up captivating him, in addition, he realized that he was good at the activity and decided to dedicate himself fully. He has achieved the best possible triumphs and has made great progress in recent years. He says, in an interview with El Tiempo, the most demanding thing in this sport is the part of physical endurance that you have to have. “It is too expensive because of the demand of the body, you can't breathe, that lowers the heart rate, the tiredness comes, it takes over you and that makes it difficult. You have to continue with the routine however, there are times to get to the other point of the pool and that makes it more complicated.”

Artistic swimming is better known as a women's sport, but for several years now men have embraced the discipline and excelled in it, so much so that the International Swimming Federation has decided to promote these participations. In Colombia, more and more men are linked to this sport and Sanchez is, until now, the most successful of them. For what he has achieved, he may be ahead of the others, but he clarifies that this is not about merits but about perseverance. Anyone, with work and dedication, could achieve the same thing as him and even overcome it.

The one born on August 31, 2000 has also been responsible for laying the foundations for more men to practice artistic swimming. His intention, beyond sports, is to help others through what he does. Sánchez is a student of visual communication design at the Javeriana University of Cali, an entity that has supported him in the promotion of his career. The Vallecaucano comments that at first he was in Water Polo and one day they told him that they needed men in artistic swimming to compete, he said yes, the important thing was to be in the water. He says he watched that sport at the Olympics and felt motivated. “I remember that it was in 2017 when I had my first international experience in a competition in Cancun and I realized that I picked up the fast pace. The learning was very premature and I stayed.”

When asked by the Colombian newspaper about whether he has ever thought about moving away from sports, he replies: “There are injustices, but they are not in your hands. One is discouraged. Two years ago there was no support, I achieved some things, but nothing. My mom picked me up. I was disappointed, but she was always there to support me. It's just that one giving everything and the support was minimal, but I fought. The truth is that Gustavo Adolfo is living a good time and that was ratified in Gallic territory. We must not forget that she is part of the Colombian Artistic Swimming Team that was crowned the champion of South America in Argentina, for the first time. Together with Jennifer Cerquera, her compatriot, they won gold in the mixed duet category.

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