Liliana Ibanez
![Liliana Ibanez]({"default":"https://cdn.fitterandfaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/img_2430.jpeg","2x":"","mobile":"","responsive":"true"} "Liliana Ibanez")
Liliana Ibanez
QUICK STATS
- Hometown: Celaya, Mexico
- Birthdate: January 30, 1991
- College: Texas A&M
- Coaches: Steve Bultman
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- 2-time Olympian representing Mexico
- World Cup Finalist
- Pan-Am Games Medallist
- Central American & Caribbean Games Medallist
- Mexican National Record Holder in the 200, 100, and 50 meter freestyle
- 19-time NCAA All American
EXPERIENCE
Liliana Ibanez is a two-time Olympian, competing in the 100- and 200-meter freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics, and in the 50-meter freestyle at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Her joy for swimming radiates through her smile. She says, “my college coach made me want to be on the pool deck and taught me the power of a smile. A smile can get you through an early morning practice, the pressure of a high stakes meet, or a late night of studying for a test.” She shares with Fitter and Faster clinic participants that taking a moment in stressful situations to just smile can have a profound effect.
Liliana enjoys sharing what she’s learned about swimming to help kids become better athletes. She uses drill progressions to activate specific skills and encourages young swimmers to diversify their training outside of the pool. She says, “In order to have a fast reaction time at the 2018 Singapore World Cup, I trained with the Texas A&M track and field coach doing the triple jump. That training led to a better reaction time off the blocks and more overall leg strength and coordination. That completely revolutionized my stroke, and I broke 10 Mexican national records in one week.”
While Liliana enjoyed success in swimming, failure has had as much of an influence on her career. She says, “reaching my goals through hard work, and not reaching my goals due to injuries, had a profound effect on my swimming career. An injury required me to adjust my technique to take off load my shoulders. When I realized I could adapt my stroke technique to meet my body where it was, I fell in love with technique mastering.”
Liliana encourages Fitter and Faster clinic participants to control what they can control. She says, “don’t focus on the outcome, as you can’t control other athletes’ performance, only your own. Trust the process; there are no shortcuts to success in this sport.”
