The University of Denver Division of Athletics will be well represented at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, beginning Friday with the opening ceremonies.
Senior gymnast Simona Castro (Santiago, Chile), former DU gymnast Jessica Lopéz (Caracas, Venezuela) and former swimmer Blake Worsley (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) will compete for three different countries at the London Summer Olympics.
Castro, who will return to DU for her senior year this fall, will be the first female gymnast to compete for Chile at the Olympics. Castro qualified for the Olympic Games at the London Test Event in January.
Lopéz also qualified at the London Test Event. The 2009 DU alumna will be the first DU summer Olympian to make a return trip to the Olympic Games. In 2008, the Venezuelan national finished 43rd in the all-around, 56th on vault, 52nd on floor, 61st on beam and 61st on bars.
Both DU gymnasts will be competing in the all-around at the Olympics. Women’s gymnastics qualifications begin on July 29, and will be shown on NBC beginning at 1 p.m. MT.
Worsley qualified for the 200 Freestyle and the 4×200 Freestyle Relay at the Canadian Trials in Montreal, Quebec, in March. At the trials, Worsley led the final heat of the 200 Freestyle at every split, hitting the wall with a final time of 1:49.06. Preliminary heats for the 200 Freestyle begin at 3:20 a.m. MT on July 29. Qualifications for the men’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay begin at 4:02 a.m. MT on July 31.
Visit www.London2012.com and www.NBCSports.com for more information.
Fans can also follow Worsley on Twitter during the Olympic Games @blakeworsley.