Alba Vázquez Ruiz (born 24 February 2002) is a Spanish swimmer who specializes in breaststroke and individual medley events.
She is the world junior record holder in the 400 metre individual medley.
At the 2019 European Junior Championships she won a gold medal in the 400 metre individual medley.
She won one gold medal and one silver medal at the 2019 World Junior Championships in individual medley events.
Early life
Vázquez was born 24 February 2002 in Spain."
Alba Vazquez: Results".
FINA.
Retrieved 28 November 2021.
Career
2018 Swimming World Cup: Doha
At the 2018 FINA Swimming World Cup stop held at the Hamad Aquatic Centre in Doha, Qatar, Vázquez won her first medal in the 200 metre breaststroke where she posted a time of 2:30.33 to finish 6.78 seconds behind the gold medalist in the event, Yuliya Yefimova of Russia, 6.27 seconds seconds behind the silver medalist, Vitalina Simonova of Russia, and win the bronze medal.FINA (13 September 2018).
"FINA Swimming World Cup 2018 Doha: Women's 200m Breaststroke Final Results".
Omega Timing.
Retrieved 28 November 2021.
In the 400 metre individual medley, Vázquez won another bronze medal, finishing only after Katinka Hosszú of Hungary and Zsuzsanna Jakabos of Hungary with her time of 4:48.68.FINA (14 September 2018).
"FINA Swimming World Cup 2018 Doha: Women's 400m Individual Medley Final Results".
Omega Timing.
Retrieved 28 November 2021.
2019
2019 European Junior Championships
In July 2019, at the 2019 European Junior Swimming Championships held at the Palace of Water Sports in Kazan, Russia, Vázquez set a new Championships record in the 400 metre individual medley with her gold-medal-winning time of 4:40.64, breaking the former record of 4:40.88 set in 2009 by Gráinne Murphy of Ireland."
European Junior Swimming Championships, Kazan (RUS) – Day 1, Summary".
LEN.
3 July 2019.
Retrieved 28 November 2021.Sutherland, James (3 July 2019).
"Alba Vazquez Lowers European Junior meet Record In 400 IM".
SwimSwam.
Retrieved 28 November 2021.
2019 World Junior Championships
On the first day of competition, 20 August, of the 2019 World Junior Championships at Danube Arena in Budapest, Hungary, Vázquez advanced to the final of the 400 metre individual medley with a time of 4:43.17 that ranked her first overall.FINA (20 August 2019).
"7th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships 2019: Women's 400m Individual Medley Heats Results Summary".
Omega Timing.
Retrieved 28 November 2021.
In the final of the 400 metre individual medley later the same day, Vázquez won the gold medal in the event with a world junior record and Championships record time of 4:38.53, breaking the former records set by Rosie Rudin of Great Britain in 2015.FINA (20 August 2019).
"7th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships 2019: Women's 400m Individual Medley Final Results".
Omega Timing.
Retrieved 28 November 2021.Race, Retta (20 August 2019).
"Spain's Alba Vazquez Clocks New World Junior Record In Women's 400 IM".
SwimSwam.
Retrieved 28 November 2021."
Alba Vázquez, campeona y récord mundial júnior de 400 estilos" (in Spanish).
El Periódico.
20 August 2019.
Retrieved 28 November 2021.
Her world junior record was the first one set at the 2019 World Junior Championships.Csurka, Gergely (20 August 2019).
"Day 1: Zombori kicked in the party, Ruiz and US free relay set new junior WRs".
FINA.
Retrieved 28 November 2021.
With her swim, Vázquez also became the second fastest female Spaniard in the event in history only behind Mireia Belmonte.Ross, Andy (20 August 2019).
"Alba Vazquez Ruiz Breaks World Junior Record in 400 IM in Thrilling Final".
Swimming World.
Retrieved 28 November 2021.
On 23 August, Vázquez ranked seventh in the prelims heats of the 200 metre individual medley, swimming a time of 2:15.82 and qualifying for the final.FINA (23 August 2019).
"7th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships 2019: Women's 200m Individual Medley Heats Results Summary".
Omega Timing.
Retrieved 28 November 2021.
Later in the day, Vázquez swam a personal best time of 2:13.43 in the final, winning the silver medal in the event.FINA (23 August 2019).
"7th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships 2019: Women's 200m Individual Medley Final Results".
Omega Timing.
Retrieved 28 November 2021.
The two medals Vázquez won, one gold medal and one silver medal, were the only medals won by swimmers representing Spain at the year's World Junior Championships.FINA (25 August 2019).
"7th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships 2019: Results Book".
Omega Timing.
Retrieved 28 November 2021.
Vázquez's accomplishments at the European Junior Championships and the World Junior Championships, caught the attention of Diario AS who gave her their "Prospect Award" for being the most promising newcomer athlete in Spain for the 2019 year.Mínguez, Jesús (3 December 2019).
"AS awards ceremony 2019".
Diario AS.
Retrieved 28 November 2021.Nogueira, Andrea (3 December 2019).
"Ona Carbonell, Javier Sotomayor y LaLiga, entre los premios AS" (in Spanish).
El País.
Retrieved 28 November 2021."
The 13th annual AS Awards pay tribute to excellence in sports".
PRISA.
11 December 2019.
Retrieved 28 November 2021.
Personal best times
Long course metres (50 m pool)
Legend: WJ – World Junior record World records
World junior records
Long course metres (50 m pool)
Awards and honours
Diario AS, Prospect Award: 2019
References
External links
