Dorian McMenemy and Jhonny Perez have both been named to the Dominican Republic Olympic team, as they will be the two representing the nation in the pool.
McMenemy recently completed her first year of NCAA swimming with Wagner College, and is set for her second Olympic appearance as she competed in London as one of two Dominicans and the only female. Her appearance was the first by a Dominican female swimmer at the Olympics.
Since the 2012 Olympics McMenemy has competed internationally at the 2013 World Championships, the 2014 Youth Olympic Games, and the 2015 World Championships. Her international debut came at the 2011 Worlds in Shanghai. In 2012 she was named the Dominican Female Athlete of the Year.
She is coming off a successful freshman year at Wagner, where she placed 5th at the NEC Championships in the 50 free and was on the 200 medley relay team that broke the school record. Her coach at Wagner, Colin Shannahan, commented on McMenemy as she prepares for Rio.
“I’m extremely proud that Dorian will be representing her country in Rio at the Olympic Games,” said Shannahan. “It will be exciting to watch her compete. I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to coach an Olympian and I know that I speak for everyone connected with Wagner swimming in wishing her the best.”
Both Perez and McMenemy have trained and competed in America their entire life, with Perez living in Florida and training at Azura Florida Aquatics in Fort Lauderdale since 2014, and McMenemy hailing from Northborough, MA.
Perez holds personal best times of 23.70 and 51.71 in the 50 and 100 freestyle from the Barcelona stop of the Mare Nostrum Series this year.
McMenemy will compete in the 50 free in Rio, and holds a personal best of 26.87 from the World Championships last summer.