Pablo Restrepo
Encyclopedia
Pablo Restrepo is a former Colombia
n breaststroke
swimmer. He competed for his native country at three consecutive Olympics (1980–88). As of May 2009, his is the only Colombian to have ever to reach an Olympic swimming final. He attended college at the USA's Southern Illinois University
.
He participated in the Central American and Caribbean Games
in his city Medellin (1978), but it was his participation in the 1979 Pan American Games
in San Juan, Puerto Rico
that showed Colombia and South America what he was able to do when he won a bronze medal in 200 m breaststroke.
In 1980, he swam at the Moscow Olympics
, where he became the first Colombian swimmer to reach an Olympic final: in the 100 m final. He finished seventh in 1:05.91 in Moscow (more than two seconds behind the winner Duncan Goodhew
). The hope for an Olympic medal would begin two years later at the 1982 World Championships
in Guayaquil, when he placed fifth place in the 200 m.
He followed the '82 Worlds, by finished third and second in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes at the 1983 Pan American Games
in Caracas, Venezuela. This, combined with the announcement of the communist countries boycotting the 1984 Summer Olympics
, looked to lead to a good result in Los Angeles the following year, so after the '83 Pan Ams Restrepo went to Canada to train. Despite this, however, he failed to earn a medal at LA'84, finishing sixth place in the 200 m. His performance (2:18.96), however, was the Colombian national record just until 2009 (the current holder is Jorge Murillo with 2:16.40).
Although he announced his retirement and came back from North America, appeared again for the 1986 Central American and Caribbean Games
(St. Domingo, Dominican Rep.) with a silver medal (behind the Cuban Hernández). That result, but even more his new world championship final in Spain (in 1986 too) made him to return with the idea of the Olympic medal.
He got the gold in the 100 m in the South American Championships
(over Brazil's Tortelli) in May 1988, but he failed to get his third Olympic final in Seoul
that same year.
Despite the level of Colombian swimming is not from world class, even is surprising that his Colombian national records in breast were just broken in 2009 (1:03.89 against 1:03.79 in 100 m. on April and 2:18.96 against 2:16.40 in 200m, both broken by Jorge Murillo).
Today, he is dedicated to his businesses and to teaching swimming in his academy. He continues to participate in swimming competitions and, showing a great longevity, he got the silver medal in 100 m. breaststroke in the 2003 Colombia National Championships, being at least 24 years older than the winner Diego Bonilla.
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n breaststroke
Breaststroke
The breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on his or her chest and the torso does not rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to its stability and the ability to keep the head out of the water a large portion of the time. In most swimming classes, beginners learn...
swimmer. He competed for his native country at three consecutive Olympics (1980–88). As of May 2009, his is the only Colombian to have ever to reach an Olympic swimming final. He attended college at the USA's Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
.
He participated in the Central American and Caribbean Games
Central American and Caribbean Games
The Central American and Caribbean Games are a multi-sport regional championships event, held quadrennial , typically in the middle year between Summer Olympics...
in his city Medellin (1978), but it was his participation in the 1979 Pan American Games
1979 Pan American Games
The 8th Pan American Games were held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from July 1 to July 15, 1979. The capital of Puerto Rico played host to 3,700 athletes from 34 countries competing in 22 sports, making the VIII Pan American Games the largest to date. Security was a concern due to turmoil over the...
in San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
that showed Colombia and South America what he was able to do when he won a bronze medal in 200 m breaststroke.
In 1980, he swam at the Moscow Olympics
Swimming at the 1980 Summer Olympics
Swimming as usual was one of the three Aquatics disciplines at the 1980 Summer Olympics--the other two being Water Polo and Diving. The swimming competition consisted of 26 events: 13 for men and 13 for women. It was held in the Swimming Pool of the Olimpiysky Sports Complex between July 20 and...
, where he became the first Colombian swimmer to reach an Olympic final: in the 100 m final. He finished seventh in 1:05.91 in Moscow (more than two seconds behind the winner Duncan Goodhew
Duncan Goodhew
Duncan Alexander Goodhew MBE is a British swimming athlete. After swimming competitively in America as a collegian at North Carolina State University, he was an Olympic swimmer for Great Britain and won Olympic gold and bronze medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.-Biography:Goodhew...
). The hope for an Olympic medal would begin two years later at the 1982 World Championships
1982 World Aquatics Championships
The 1982 World Aquatics Championships took place in Guayaquil, Ecuador between July 29 and August 8, 1982 with 848 participating athletes.- Medals table :-Diving:MenWomen-Swimming:MenWomen-Synchronised swimming:-Water polo:Men...
in Guayaquil, when he placed fifth place in the 200 m.
He followed the '82 Worlds, by finished third and second in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes at the 1983 Pan American Games
1983 Pan American Games
The ninth Pan American Games were held in Caracas, Venezuela from August 14 to August 29, 1983. The games were the first major international competition to include relatively accurate steroid testing...
in Caracas, Venezuela. This, combined with the announcement of the communist countries boycotting the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
, looked to lead to a good result in Los Angeles the following year, so after the '83 Pan Ams Restrepo went to Canada to train. Despite this, however, he failed to earn a medal at LA'84, finishing sixth place in the 200 m. His performance (2:18.96), however, was the Colombian national record just until 2009 (the current holder is Jorge Murillo with 2:16.40).
Although he announced his retirement and came back from North America, appeared again for the 1986 Central American and Caribbean Games
1986 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 15th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic from June 24 to July 5, 1986, and included 2.963 athletes from 25 nations.-References:...
(St. Domingo, Dominican Rep.) with a silver medal (behind the Cuban Hernández). That result, but even more his new world championship final in Spain (in 1986 too) made him to return with the idea of the Olympic medal.
He got the gold in the 100 m in the South American Championships
South American Swimming Championships
The South American Swimming Championships are a biennial aquatics championships for countries from CONSANAT--the South American Swimming Confederation...
(over Brazil's Tortelli) in May 1988, but he failed to get his third Olympic final in Seoul
Swimming at the 1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics took place in Seoul, South Korea. The swimming competition, held from September 18 to September 25, was notable for the seven medals, including five golds, won by Matt Biondi, the six golds won by Kristin Otto, and the three individual golds won by Janet Evans...
that same year.
Despite the level of Colombian swimming is not from world class, even is surprising that his Colombian national records in breast were just broken in 2009 (1:03.89 against 1:03.79 in 100 m. on April and 2:18.96 against 2:16.40 in 200m, both broken by Jorge Murillo).
Today, he is dedicated to his businesses and to teaching swimming in his academy. He continues to participate in swimming competitions and, showing a great longevity, he got the silver medal in 100 m. breaststroke in the 2003 Colombia National Championships, being at least 24 years older than the winner Diego Bonilla.