The redshirt freshman Arroyo has been training with Sun Devil head coach Bob Bowman and the ASU program during the shutdown. With the delay of the Olympics it allowed Arroyo the best opportunity for success.
"I'm just so grateful and honored to be able to represent Puerto Rico in Tokyo! For the last 10 years I've dreamt of this moment and it's finally here," Arroyo stated. "I especially want to thank all those who have helped me get here. Both of my coaches, Fernando Canales and Bob Bowman for showing me how to put my dreams into reality so I am so thankful for them. I'm also thankful for all the sacrifice my family has made for me to get here as well. They've done so much for me and without them I would not be here. Thank you to my friends who have supported me through much as well. I'm so grateful for the lasting friendships I've been able to develop over the past few years. I know that competing in Tokyo is going to be an amazing experience and will teach me so much that I can apply to my future life here at ASU and beyond. Go Devils and Go Puerto Rico!"
The Puerto Rican isn't the only Sun Devil representing their respective country on the elite world stage.2021 Sun Devil commit Lèon Marchand was the first Olympic qualifier for the French national team. He reset his own national record by 5.32s in the 2021 French Elite Swimming Championships in the 400IM. Since March Marchand has improved times in four events while also being moved from No. 40 to No. 4 all-time in European history.
Alumna Fanny Teijonsalo will swim for Finland in the 50M freestyle while volunteer swimming coaches Allison Schmitt and Hali Flickinger will be in red, white and blue for Team USA.
Schmitt is a four-time gold medalist as she is headed into her fourth appearance at the Olympics. Closing out trials in June, Schmitt finished with a time of 1:56.79 in the 200 freestyle, which gives her a likely individual event in Tokyo as well as a spot on the 4x200 free relay.
Flickinger fell just short of a podium finish (seventh) in Rio de Janiero. At this year's U.S. Olympic Trials she slammed home a first place finish in the 400 IM. Flickinger finished in 4:37.79, just shy of her personal best time of 4:37.55 from earlier this year. In the 200M butterfly she set a new personal best time at 2:05:85 in her victory race. This time is the fastest ever in U.S. water and the second-fastest time in the world this year.
Alumni Richard Bohus, a backstroke and freeystle specialist, and Anna Olasz will swim for Team Hungary. Olasz will represent her country in the Olympic Marathon Swim in open water. The 27-year-old qualified to Tokyo with a time of 2:01:55.4. Tokyo is Olasz's second appearance in the Olympics while this is Bohus' third go-round.
Wrapping up Sun Devil presence on the island is coach Bowman who was named a member of the USA Swimming coaching staff. Bowman led Team USA as head coach in 2016.
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JAROD ARROYO, PUERTO RICO -- 200 IM & 400 IM
Jarod has yet to break records in a Sun Devil uniform, however in May at the Puerto Rico International Open he broke two Puerto Rican national records. In the 200 IM he swam 2:00.85 beating the national record of 2:00.91, his qualifying time placed him in a spot to attend the Olympics. He surpassed the national best during the 400 IM in a time of 4:16.63 while also chopping five seconds off his personal best.
FANNY TEIJONSALO, FINLAND -- 50M FreestyleJarod Arroyo ?? Tokyo
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) July 2, 2021
?? Arroyo will be swimming in the 200 IM and 400 IM for Puerto Rico in the 2021 Olympics! ??????#ForksUp x #O2V |#Olympics2021 pic.twitter.com/HbG6kPHPzY
Fanny has the second (22.13 on March 21, 2019), third (22.19 on Feb. 28, 2019) and seventh (22.29 on Feb. 28, 2019) in school history in the 50m freestyle and her 48.70 on March 23, 2019 is third best in the 100 freestyle, while 49.07 on Feb. 20, 2020 is seventh-best. Also has four of the top 10 Sun Devil scores in the 100 butterfly. She transferred to ASU from Florida Gulf Coast after the 2016-17 season.
It's official...she's headed to Tokyo! ??
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) June 11, 2021
Alumna Fanny Teijonsalo will swim in the 50M ?? event at the 2021 Olympics for Team Finland.????#ForksUp x #O2V |#OlympicGames pic.twitter.com/A1i6bU6xxe
LÈON MARCHAND, FRANCE -- 200M Butterfly, 200M & 400M IM
Marchand will be a freshman at ASU this fall and is the current French record holder in the 400 individual medley. His parents, Xavier Marchand ('96 & '00) and Céline Bonnet ('92), both competed for France in the Olympics. The 19-year-old recently went from No. 40 in Europe's all-time list to No. 4.
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) November 13, 2020
Leon is officially a Sun Devil! #ForksUp for the French 400 IM National Record Holder and World Junior medalist!!! pic.twitter.com/ykyYqkFzZK
ALLISON SCHMITT, UNITED STATES -- Freestyle & RelayOfficially official!! ??
— Fanny Teijonsalo (@fannyteijonsalo) June 11, 2021
Beyond excited and honored to be selected to represent Finland at the biggest stage there is ?? pic.twitter.com/EqfxgpR3D2
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Allison Schmitt is headed to a fourth Olympic Games in 2021. In her first Olympics in 2008, Schmitt won a bronze medal leading off the women's 4x200 free relay. At London 2012, Schmitt won gold individually in the 200 free and won golds on both the 4x100 and 4x200 free relays; she also took silver in the 400 free. In Rio, where she was named a team captain, Schmitt earned a gold medal in the 4x200 free relay and a silver as a prelims swimmers for the 4x100 free relay.
HALI FLICKINGER, UNITED STATES -- 200M Butterfly & 400M IMBeijing ??
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) June 17, 2021
London ??
Rio de Janeiro ??
soon...Tokyo ??
Allison Schmitt earns her spot on Team USA at the 200M Freestyle Olympic Trials event! ????#ForksUp x #O2V |#Olympics2021 pic.twitter.com/ZqUEudpLPl
Hali Flickinger will compete in her second Olympics after finishing seventh in the 200m fly in 2016.
Rio de Janeiro ??
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) June 18, 2021
?? Tokyo ??
Hali Flickinger earns her spot on Team USA after winning the 200M Butterfly Olympic Trials event! ???? Flickinger will also represent Team USA in the 400M IM event in Tokyo. ??#ForksUp x #O2V |#Olympics2021 pic.twitter.com/ouMgDBQPU8
RICHARD BOHUS, HUNGARY -- Backstroke & Freestyle
Bohis competed in both 2012 and 2016 Olympics and has ASU's second-fastest 100- and 200-meter backstroke. He graduated from ASU summa cum laude in fall of 2017 and earned All-America honors in the 400 free relay in 2017 and honorable mention in five other events.
ANNA OLASZ, HUNGARY -- Olympic Marathon Swimmer
Olasz swam in the 2016 Olympics in Rio and placed 14th in the 10k open water. She finished second or better in 11 events in 2015-16 and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in business (communication) in 2017. An open water swimmer, this past year Olasz won the second and final FINA Olympic Marathon Swim Qualifier in Portugal to qualify herself for the Tokyo Olympics. Olasz won silver in the 10km at last month's European Championships in Budapest.
BOB BOWMAN, UNITED STATES -- Coaching Staff
Hall of Famer Bob Bowman, who coached Michael Phelps to 28 Olympic medals (23 gold) over five Olympics from 2000-2016, was named to the staff for Tokyo after serving as the head coach in 2016. He was named Sun Devil head swimming coach in April of 2015. He also was an assistant Olympic coach in 2004, 2008 and 2012 and was the U.S. head men's coach at the 2007, 2009 and 2013 World Championships.
I am humbled and truly grateful to represent @TeamUSA at the Tokyo Olympics. Thanks to the amazing athletes, dedicated staff and @USASwimming for making this dream a reality. Special thanks to @TheSunDevils and @SunDevilRay23 for supporting real excellence. @ASUSwimDive pic.twitter.com/a6ZUQqvT0h
— Bob Bowman (@coach_bowman) June 21, 2021