Senior BYU swimmer Diego Camacho Salgado has made swimming more than just an NCAA sport, he has made it his lifestyle, with the hope of competing in the Olympics in 2028.
Camacho Salgado was sought out by BYU about four years ago. BYU reached out to him, and he soon became a Cougar.
Camacho Salgado is from Tijuana, Mexico. Coming to Provo to swim for BYU, he experienced quite the culture shock. He was in a brand new place, brand new school, and surrounded by a religion that he does not practice.
“It was a shock but not in a negative way. It was really fun. When I came, people her received me like I had known them from years ago,” Camacho Salgado said.
Before coming to BYU in 2018, Camacho Salgado was competing for a spot in the Youth Olympic Games. He was unexpectedly cut even though his swimming times qualified. He was notified that only the top two would get the chance to compete, and Camacho Salgado came right behind them in third. This was very hard on him at only 15 years old. Camacho Salgado’s mom was able to help him overcome the internal battle that he was experiencing.
“She told me everything happens for a reason and that maybe God had something better for me in the future,” Camacho Salgado said.
Sure enough, the bigger and better things were coming, because just a year later he was able to qualify for junior worlds. Camacho Salgado made sure to finish in first place so that he would certainly be able to compete. He later also qualified for the first Junior Pan-American games. At 18 years old, he placed first in the 100-back, which made him the first Pan-American champion in that event.
After that, he was also given the opportunity to swim in two world championships — one in Japan and the other in Doha. During this time, Camacho Salgado found out that he was one second away from qualifying for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Camacho Salgado is now preparing for the next Olympic games in 2028 in Los Angeles. To qualify, he needs to have a better time than the times that are set by World Aquatics. These would be the absolute minimum times he would need to have. Then, Camacho Salgado would need to be at a race that is approved by World Aquatics and have a better time than that minimum standard.
During his time at BYU, he has been among the top-five swimmers in BYU history in the 50, 100 and 200 back.
This is his last year if NCAA eligibility. Camacho Salgado is still planning on practicing, but will not be competing with team anymore.
Camacho Salgado is planning on graduating in April 2026. After he graduates, he is still unsure about what the plan is. Salgado has looked at a team in Virginia, but nothing has officially been decided yet.
Camacho Salgado has gone from Tijuana to Provo — now, he's hoping one of his next stops is the 2028 Olympics.