BUDAPEST – Rising senior Vanessa Rivas and alumnae Lani Cabrera, Evita Leter and Karen Vilorio will represent the FGCU swimming and diving program at the 17th FINA World Championships held in Budapest, Hungary, which started on July 14 and will run through July 30.
 
The swimming portion of the World Championships features a total of 40 events, including 32 individual events and eight relays, and will take place from Sunday, July 23 through Sunday, July 30 at the Dagaly Aquatics Arena.
 
Representing the Green and Blue, Cabrera (Barbados) will swim in the 200 free on July 23 and the 100 free on July 27, while Vilorio (Honduras) will enter the pool in the 100 back on July 24 and the 50 back on July 26. Additionally, both Rivas (White Rock, Canada/Earl Marriott Secondary School), who broke three Dominican Republic national records at the recent Southern Zone Sectionals – Orlando, and Leter (Suriname) will compete in the 100 breast on July 24 and the 50 breast on July 29.
 
"Representing ones country is the highest honor an athlete can have," said FGCU head coach Dave Rollins. "On top of that, these women are incredible people who represent the Green and Blue well beyond the pool. Each of them had outstanding careers and seasons, and it'll be exciting to see them compete on the world stage."
 
Rivas previously competed at the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona, while Vilorio (London, 2012), Cabrera and Leter (Rio, 2016) have each previously qualified for the Olympics along with other international championships.
 
Coverage throughout the World Championships will be broadcasted on Universal HD, the Olympic Channel and NBCSN. Additionally, a live stream will be available on NBCSports.com, and results for each of the 40 swimming events can be found here.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-date coverage of FGCU women's swimming and diving, follow us on Twitter @FGCU_WSWIM and visit www.FGCUAthletics.com where full recaps and results will be available.
                                                                       
HEAD COACH DAVE ROLLINS
First-year head coach Dave Rollins became the program's second head coach in program history on Sept. 1, 2016. In his first year with the program, Rollins led the Eagles to its eighth CCSA Championship in a span of nine years and guided the Eagles 200 free relay team to All-American honors. FGCU registered points at the NCAA Championships for the fourth straight season and ultimately turned in its third-best finish all-time (T-41st). Prior to FGCU, Rollins was the associate head men's swimming coach at The Ohio State University and brought 10 years of coaching experience at the club, high school and collegiate levels. A standout collegiate athlete in his own right, Rollins was a nine-time NCAA All-American and national champion as a member of the University of Arizona swimming & diving team from 2002-06. 

SUPPORT THE CAUSE
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.