A University of South Carolina swimmer won gold at the Junior Pan American Games. | Unsplash
A University of South Carolina swimmer won gold at the Junior Pan American Games. | Unsplash
South Carolina swim star Patrick Groters recently raced to an Aruba national record in the 200 meter backstroke on the way to capturing gold at the Junior Pan American Games.
After capturing the preliminary heat in 2:03.55, Groters placed his name in the record books with a time of 2:01.78 in the gold-medal winning finals.
According to GatorOnline.com, Groters’ winning mark also set a record for the Junior Pan American Games, with the win also automatically qualifying him for a spot at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, in 2023.
Groters was one of 16 athletes chosen to represent Team Aruba and was the first to medal for his country.
For the Gamecocks, Groters will be back in action on Jan. 15, when the team faces off against UNC Wilmington at the Carolina Natatorium at 10 a.m.
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