This cat can swim.
Former Bengal Long Gutierrez, who shattered more than 40 Utah High School Activity Association swimming records while competing for Brighton High, vied this week for Olympic gold at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio De Janeiro against such history-making swimmers as Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte.
Gutierrez, one of just three swimmers competing for the Mexican Olympic swim team, finished seventh in his 100-meter butterfly heat on Thursday. His time of 53.34 seconds wasn’t enough to qualify for the semifinals but Gutierrez says it was an experience he’s been dreaming of since he started swimming competitively.
“Not the results I was hoping for but this was one of the best experiences I have had in my swimming career so far,” he wrote on his Instagram page. “Proud to be able to represent Mexico and have so many people support me on my Olympic journey.”
His fans at Brighton High anxiously awaited the news about his heat on Thursday. “We are just so proud he is there,” said Brighton High Principal Charisse Hilton.
Gutierrez’s, whose parents moved to Cottonwood Heights from Mexico when he was 2 in order to give their son more opportunities, led the Brighton High boys swim team to consecutive 5A state titles. The dual citizen is now a senior at University of Calfornia, Berkeley,, and will return to school on scholarship this fall. When not in the pool, the dual citizen hits the books in pursuit of a degree in integrated biology.
“I’m just excited to be here,” Gutierrez told the Deseret News about his Olympic experience. “Even with that like, that swim not being where I wanted. I’m stoked to be here. That feeling is incredible.”
