Lucas: Born and Bred - The Long Way Back

Posted Jul 11, 2024
UNC's best individual medal hope at the Paris 2024 Olympics was discovered at a hair salon. Aranza Vazquez was just a four-year-old in La Paz, Mexico, when she was spotted by her future coach. Vazquez’s aunt had a hair salon where Aranza would sometimes pass the afternoons. On one of those days, she was spotted by diving coach Yuniesky Hernandez. (Rams Club)

Related: Swimming & Diving

This Week in UNC Sports: October 19-25, 2026
October will roll on with another very busy week of Tar Heel sports. To begin, the women’s tennis and men’s golf teams wrap up events...
Mon Oct 19, 2026

UNC Swimming & Diving Sweeps Duke On Friday
The UNC Swimming and Diving teams swept Duke on Friday at Koury Natatorium. The men's team smashed the Blue Devils 220.5-79.5, while the women won...
Fri Oct 16, 2026

Three Tar Heel Legends Inducted Into N.C. Swimming Hall Of Fame
The UNC swimming program was well represented at the North Carolina Swimming Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday in Greensboro. Three legends of the...
Thu Oct 8, 2026

With college accolades under his belt, UNC swimmer Xavier Ruiz setting sights on Olympics
Whether in a river during the pandemic, practice at Koury Natatorium, or competing for a gold medal for his home of Puerto Rico, nothing changes...
Fri Oct 2, 2026