David López-Zubero

Who is David López-Zubero?

David López-Zubero Purcell, also known as David Zubero, is a former competition swimmer who represented Spain at three Summer Olympics and won an Olympic bronze medal in 1980. Zubero was born in the United States, swam in international competition for Spain, and holds dual Spanish-American citizenship.

David Zubero is the older brother of the 1992 Olympic champion in the 200-meter backstroke, Martin López-Zubero. Zubero served as an assistant coach under Ralph Crocker and Gary Butts for the Pine Crest School in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in the 1990s.

Zubero attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he swam for coach Randy Reese's Florida Gators swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletics Association competition from 1977 to 1981. He competed in the championship finals of the 200-yard individual medley all four years. Zubero swam on the Gators 800-yard freestyle relay team that set an American record and tied the NCAA record, while winning the national title in that event in 1979. He also swam on another national championship 800-yard freestyle relay in 1981. During his four years as a Gator swimmer, Zubero received fourteen All-American honors.