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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. – Queens University of Charlotte will see two Royals compete in the international competition beginning August 5, 2016, as Dion Dreesens and Patricia Castro-Ortega partake in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Dreesens has earned a spot swimming for the Netherlands while Castro-Ortega competes with the Spanish team. Both swimmers are former Olympians after competing in the London Games in 2012 and will be the first Queens athletes to compete in the Olympics.

"For both Patri and Dion to come to Queens and achieve their goals of representing their country in an individual event at the Olympic Games is a testament to the focus and relentless sense of urgency they had to trust the system and reap the benefits," said Queens head swimming coach Jeff Dugdale. "Both have met and exceeded expectations in taking care of themselves and maximizing the resources Queens has to succeed. My expectations now are that they represent both their country and Queens with pride. I can't wait to have both return home in late August to share their experiences with the rest of the program."

Dreesens will repeat his 2012 event, the 800 meter freestyle relay, as he looks to launch the Dutch team to the top of the podium in this year's games. He will add the 200 meter freestyle to his week competing in his first individual event in the competition.

"I am glad that I found my new home in Charlotte back in 2014 to practice towards my goals of making the Olympic team," said Dreesens. "I am grateful and honored to be able to say that I'll represent my country on the biggest stage of the world, in which I hope and strive to excel." 

Earlier this year, Dreesens helped the 800 meter freestyle relay team to their first European Championship since 1999. As the leadoff swimmer for the relay team, Dreesens aided the Dutch team a final time of 7:07.82. The team would have ranked sixth in the Olympic Games in 2012 as the United States of America claimed the gold medal with a time of 6:59.70.

Individually, Dreesens's leadoff swim in the relay gave an indication of his 200 meter time as he touched the wall at 1:47.92.  French swimmer Yannick Agnel took the gold in 2012 with a time of 1:43.14.

With Queens, Dreesens was named the 2016 NCAA Division II Swimmer of the Meet after grabbing three NCAA championships, two of which broke the NCAA record. Dreesens landed a new record in the 200 yard freestyle and the 500 yard freestyle in addition to touching the wall first in the 1000 yard freestyle.

Castro-Ortega prepares for three events in next week's competition taking to the blocks in the 200 meter freestyle, the 400 meter freestyle relay and the 800 meter freestyle relay. The individual swim, 200 meter freestyle, will be the first for the athlete. She, like Dreesens, swam in the 800 freestyle relay during the London Olympic Games as the Spanish team just missed reaching the finals ranking 10^th in the competition with a time of 7:54.59.

"I am very excited for the Olympics, and I cannot wait to go to Rio and live the experience" said Castro-Ortega. "It is going to be awesome."

Castro-Ortega swam leadoff for the 800 meter freestyle relay team in the European Championships during the morning race, claiming the second fastest split on her team with a 1:58.61. She moved to second in the order for the finals reaching the wall with a split time of 1:58.21 to help the team grab silver.  Her split times would have ranked her inside the top 15 four years ago with the qualifying time for the top heat at 1:57.57. Allison Schmitt, USA, took gold with a 1:53.61 in the 200 meter freestyle.

Earlier this year, Castro-Ortega claimed two back-to-back NCAA Swimmer of the Meet awards while competing with the Royals. She earned four national records during the NCAA meet taking the top swim in the 200 individual medley, the 400 individual medley, the 500 freestyle and the 100 freestyle.

The Olympic Games are scheduled to begin on August 5, 2016 and will conclude 16 days later on August 21. The competition will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.