Alumna NSU swimmer competes in 2024 Summer Olympics

By Isabella Fernandez De Cueto and Bella Giaquinto •

2023 NSU women’s swim alumna Celina Marquez competed in her second consecutive Olympics for El Salvador at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Marquez was born and raised in San Salvador, El Salvador and began swimming when she was 3 years old. By the time she was 11 years old, she represented her country at international swimming competitions.

Her experience caught the eyes of college coaches across the United States. Following her high school graduation in 2017, she attended and swam for Oklahoma Baptist University.

At the end of her freshman year in 2018, Marquez took a gap year to train for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She trained at Azura Florida Aquatics, where she met Coach Ben Hewitt, NSU women’s swim team head coach.

“She’s determined, hardworking and has a tremendous skill set. She was at the top of her game when she was on the team here at NSU, which is a hard thing to do. She was a key part of our team and success during her time with us,” Coach Hewitt said.

Marquez was on the NSU women’s swimming team from the fall of 2021 through the winter of 2023. During this time, she won an individual national championship in the 200-meter backstroke in 2022 and helped the program win its first national championship in 2023.

“My experience at NSU was amazing. The environment was the perfect balance between friendly and competitive, so I was really able to develop as a swimmer. I made some lifelong friendships while also breaking records and winning championships,” Marquez said.

The NSU women’s swim coaching staff played an instrumental role in Marquez’s swimming career at both the collegiate and international level.

“Coach Ben Hewitt and Coach Sierra Rhodes were both great mentors for me. They helped me and pushed me when I needed it most while also being so supportive. They were very supportive in my endeavors with El Salvador as well,” Marquez said.

Marquez competed in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, placing 36th and 23rd. Her experience helped shape her mindset for the 2024 Olympics.

“It was one of the best experiences of my life, but it was also humbling and made me realize I put way too much pressure on myself to succeed. The road to the 2020 Olympics was so mentally and physically challenging, and although it paid off, it also made me rethink my mentality for the 2024 Olympics,” Marquez said. “I wasn’t going to overthink or overly pressure myself. I would put my all into the race and whatever happened, happened.”

At the Paris Olympics, Marquez was one of the flag-bearers for El Salvador at the opening ceremony. She competed in the 100-meter backstroke and placed 32nd.

“Representing my flag, heritage and family is a beautiful feeling. Though El Salvador is such a small country, I still feel love and support from my people,” Marquez said.

Marquez has not decided if she will compete at the 2028 Olympics.

“I am not thinking about the 2028 Olympics yet. I might be there, or I might not. Right now, I go to the pool simply because I love to swim,” Marquez said.