DOHA, Qatar – Virginia Tech swimmers and alumni competed at the 2024 World Aquatic Championships from February 11th-18th. There were Hokies representing Hong Kong, India, Lebanon, Lithuania, India, Mexico, Spain and the United States.
Mario Molla Yanes, who represented Spain, had amazing performances throughout the championship. He started with the 50 fly and won the second semifinal heat with a time of 23.17. In the finals, he finished sixth overall with a time of 23.29. He followed this performance with an Olympic-qualifying swim in the 100 fly. In the semifinals, Molla Yanes finished fourth with a time of 51.48. In the finals, he finished seventh overall with a time of 51.72.
Carles Coll Marti, who also represented Spain, proved he excels in the breaststroke on an international level. In the 200 breaststroke, he placed ninth overall with a time of 2:10.77.
Another Spaniard, Luis Dominguez, was a part of the Spanish 4x200 freestyle relay. In the semifinals, Dominguez led off the relay in a national record 200 freestyle with a time of 1:47.02. The relay also set a national record with a time of 7:10.63. Molla Yanes joined the relay in the finals to qualify Spain for the Olympics by finishing eighth overall with a time of 7:11.65.
The Spanish 4x100 freestyle relay team consisting of Coll Marti, Dominguez and Molla Yanes qualified Spain to compete in the Olympics. They finished eighth overall with a time of 3:14.93. Coll Marti and Molla Yanes were also a part of the Spanish 4x100 medley relay. In the semifinals, they finished third with a time of 3:33.57. In the finals, they finished fifth overall with a time of 3:33.20.
Carmen Weiler Sastre, representing Spain, finished ninth overall in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:00.81.
Alumnus Ian Ho, who represented Hong Kong, punched his ticket to Paris in the 50 freestyle during the prelims with a time of 21.83. He also set a national record for Hong Kong with this swim.
On the 20-meter high dive, alumna Kaylea Arnett of the United States finished fourth overall with the score of 300.05.