PARIS, France – Celina Marquez, a former NCAA Division II national champion swimmer for the Nova Southeastern Sharks Women's Swimming program and a member of the first NCAA Division II national championship team in team history, has been selected as an Olympian to the El Salvador National Team and as the flag bearer for the country during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games.  

"We're proud of Celina. She has continued to be a champion athlete after her storied career at Nova Southeastern," stated Head Coach Ben Hewitt. "She has committed herself to this goal for a long time and we have a great sense of joy for her as she competes at her second Olympic games. It's exciting to watch her add to her list of many accomplishments." 

Marquez will compete in the 100-meter backstroke on Monday, July 29th, at 11 a.m. in Paris (5 a.m. EST). The 2024 Olympic games marks Marquez's second time participating in the event, having represented El Salvador at the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.  

During her Nova Southeastern swimming career, Marquez won the 200-meter backstroke NCAA Division II individual national title in 2022 and was a part of the 200- and 400-meter medley relay national championship winning relay teams. Marquez also helped the Sharks win the Sunshine State Conference Championship in 2022 and 2023.  

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games can be seen on NBC, check your local listings, or streamed on Peacock, beginning on Friday, July 26th through Sunday, August 11th. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Women's Swimming, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_Swim.