Cuban Swimmer Sets 5 Records in USA

HAVANA TIMES, Feb 29 — Cuban-born swimmer Rafael Castillo, whose is a left leg and left arm amputee, won four gold medals and set five national records this weekend at the 2012 Jimi Flowers Classic in Colorado Springs, USA.

The Cuban swept the competitions by winning first-place medals in the 50 and 100 meter butterfly, the 50 meter backstroke and the 200 meter individual medley, and set the American record in the first three contests, in addition to setting a national record for the 50 and 100 meter freestyle races.

“I will not stop until I became Olympic champion as a member of US team,” said the 25-year-old athlete to Café Fuerte. “That brought me to this country and do all I have to make sacrifices for it.”

Castle has been living in Miami for three months after having deserted the Cuban delegation that participated in the Fourth Para-Pan American Games in Guadalajara Mexico this past November. At those games he had won gold and silver medals in the 50 meter butterfly and the 100 meter freestyle categories.

The Jimi Flowers Classic is the premier swimming competition between disabled people in the United States.