Cuban Rodolfo Falcón Jr. won his second title at the Open in Swimming of Puerto Rico 2023, by winning this Sunday in the 1500-meter freestyle test.
Falcón Jr. starred in a spectacular shot at the San Juan Natatorium, to snatch the scepter from local Diego Dulieu, from the Azura Florida Aquatics club.
The Cuban stopped the clock in 15:57.29 minutes, the second best lifetime time in this distance, according to a report from the digital site Hit.
Golden closure of Falcón Jr. in lido de #swimming In Puerto Rico
In a frenetic finale, the Cuban finished off local Diego Dulieu and lost 16 minutes in the 1,500-meter freestyle for the second time in his career. #swimming #Cubahttps://t.co/CkAKutgpn9 pic.twitter.com/eyKF18w16j— JIT Cuban Sport (@jit_digital) May 1, 2023
In this way, Dulieu had to settle for second place and a time of 15:57.64, while fellow Puerto Rican Christian Bayó completed the podium thanks to his record of 16:02.61.
The Havana swimmer, son of the Olympic medalist Rodolfo Falcón, thus managed to go below 16 minutes for the second time in his career, since he had previously set a mark of 15:42.83 minutes in a phase of the European circuit Mare Nostrum, in Barcelona, adds the publication.
Falcón Jr. closed his foray into the contest of Puerto Rico with three medals to his account, since he opened with a bronze review in the 800-meter freestyle, with a time close to the national record in his possession, and then he dominated the 400-meter of the same specialty with 4:02.49 minutes, his best time at that distance.
Rodolfo Falcón Jr. among the medalists of the Puerto Rico Swimming Open
This performance by Falcón Jr. is encouraging news for Cuban swimming, facing the Central American and Caribbean Games of San Salvador. In that event, the young swimmer will participate in the 800 and 1500 meter events.
In the Salvadoran capital, the Havanan will also venture into the open water event, after also qualifying in Puerto Rico, during the second stop of the 2023 Pan-American Open Water Series, in which he won gold in 10 kilometers and silver in the 5.