Swimming Frog ready for London

By Brent Shirley

bshirley@star-telegram.com

Crisp. Smooth. Powerful.

Those are the words that jump into TCU swim coach Richard Sybesma's mind when he watches Edgar Crespo in the pool.

When Crespo is not in the water, Sybesma adds humble and grateful.

"He's been looking great in the water," said Sybesma, who has been at TCU for 33 years. "He's been phenomenal for us. But more importantly, he's been very appreciative for this chance he was given to attend and represent TCU."

Crespo finished his TCU swimming career earlier this year and has a part of four school records, two individual and two medley relays. Since then, he has been training for the London Olympics, where he will represent his native country of Panama in the 100-meter breaststroke.

"This is a huge step for me," said Crespo, who competed for Panama in the 2008 Beijing Games as well. "My first Olympics was a really good experience, and I know the second one is going to be better than the first. I'm prepared, and I'm going to have fun."

Crespo came from Panama with nothing; his goal in life was to use swimming to get an education in the United States. He is on schedule to graduate in December with dual degrees in marketing and business management.

"He didn't even have the money to buy a bicycle, and it's against the rules for us to give him one," Sybesma said. "He's not a typical story. He's worked hard. He has an underprivileged background but has made the most of every opportunity."

Crespo hasn't decided if he will use his degrees back home in Panama City or stay in America. He might become a professional swimmer. No matter what he decides, Crespo is optimistic about his future.

"I will have to work hard and gain business experience," he said. "I want to be a great entrepreneur. I wanted to come here to allow myself to have a better life. I want to apply everything that I have learned at TCU."

For now, however, Crespo is focused on making the semifinal round in the 100-meter breaststroke.

"My main goal is to make it to the second round," Crespo said. "I've been working very hard for it. I think all of the months of working are going to pay off."

Sybesma wants to see Crespo succeed, but he knows the challenge.

"He will have to put together the swim of his life," Sybesma said. "Everything has to go perfect for him to make the semifinals, that's with his stroke, his training, when he peaks. All of that has to come together."

Crespo had to change his typical training patterns. He swam several events for TCU, but everything he has worked on for the past six months has been for the 100-meter breaststroke. The Olympics use a 50-meter pool instead of the NCAA 25-yard lanes.

"It's a huge difference," Crespo said. "I've been transforming all of my strokes and working on swimming at least eight hours a day, everything to improve my breaststroke."

TCU assistant Bill Koppelman, Crespo's main trainer for the breaststroke, will accompany Crespo to London. At the 2008 Beijing Games he won his heat with a then-personal-best of 1 minute, 3.72 seconds but failed to make the semifinals.

"It doesn't feel like it's been four years, and I'm sad because I don't want to leave TCU," said Crespo, who called TCU his second family. "But life is moving on. I had a lot of fun here, and these four years have been good for me"

Alejandro Gomez, who graduated from TCU three years ago, will also be swimming in London. He will compete in the 1,500-meter freestyle for Venezuela.

"Having two swimmers representing TCU in the Olympics can be nothing but a positive reflection on what is happening here," Sybesma said. "Everything like this helps boost our program."

Crespo remembers feeling awed at the opening ceremony in Beijing. He won't be able to attend the opening festivities in London because he has to swim the next day. That might be for the best. He wants to be completely focused on the pool.

"I feel ready. I'm in really good shape," Crespo said. "Now, I'm just going to have fun from the time I'm in the blocks."

Brent Shirley, 817-390-7760

Twitter: @bshirley08

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