Tokyo Calympians: Robin Hanson (Sweden Swim), Gennaro di Mauro (Italy Row)
The two incoming freshmen will be able to tell their future Cal classmates that they spent part of the summer in Tokyo at the Olympics
With under a week until the Opening Ceremony (although events will start before then), many of our Tokyo “Calympians” are not yet featured. I will need to start lumping them together, with emphasis on the first-timers and ones who are less likely to get more coverage during the Games.
This afternoon’s post will feature the two incoming freshmen: Robin Hanson of Sweden who will join Cal Men’s Swimming and Gennaro di Mauro of Italy who will join Cal Men’s Rowing.
Robin Hanson
Sport: Swimming
Event: Men’s 100m Free, Men’s 200m Free
Nation: Sweden
Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden
Olympic Appearance: 1st
Age: 20 (April 2, 2001)
Cal connection: Cal Incoming Freshman
Depending on which of the Cal recent senior class decides to come back (if any at all), Robin Hanson could likely be the top 200 Free swimmers for the Golden Bears as soon as 2021.
Hanson is the Swedish junior record holder for both 100m and 200m Free in both the long-course (like the Olympics) and short-course (more like the NCAA, although it would be yards rather than meters).
Hanson earned his Olympic spot by meeting the Olympic standard at the European Championships in May when he placed 7th in the final for 200m. His time of 1:46.50 would have placed him 7th at the U.S. Swim Trials (where Cal alum Andrew Seliskar placed 4th to earn a US Olympic relay spot with a time of 1:46.34), which both showed how hard it is to be a US Olympian but also indicates how good this incoming freshman is already.
Today I officially got selected to represent Sweden at the Olympic games in Tokyo this summer. A dream come true🙌🏽
Hanson will also race in the 100m Free, but is less likely to make the semi-finals of that event.
Next year, Robin Hanson will be the second Swede Calympian on the Cal team with Bjorn Seeliger entering his sophomore season. Seeliger will race in the 50m Free for Sweden.
I'm very excited to announce my commitment to swim and study at the University of California, Berkeley! Thank you to everyone who has helped me and believed in me all this time. Go Bears🐻
I fully expect great things from Robin Hanson for his upcoming time in Berkeley.
Gennaro di Mauro
Sport: Rowing
Event: Men’s Single Sculls
Nation: Italy
Hometown: Italy somewhere (I can’t find any info on this)
Olympic Appearance: 1st (November 8, 2001)
Age: 19
Cal connection: Cal Incoming Freshman (deferred admission by one year)
Gennaro di Mauro took 5th in the recent World Rowing Cup III. The young Italian rower might not yet be a serious Olympic medal contender, but he is well on his way in a sport where athletes peak in their mid-20s.
With all that he has already achieved in rowing, Gennaro should be a four-year rower on Cal’s Varsity 8 boat.
Best of luck to both Robin and Gennaro in Tokyo!
GO BEARS!