GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In Venezuela, one of the big stories of the 2021 Summer Olympic Games is the Mestre family legacy making its splashing revival in Tokyo.
Alberto Mestre was just 15 when he made headlines competing for his home country in the 1980 Games at Moscow. Mestre swam in the 100- and 200-meter freestyle events, but did not advance out of the prelims. He did, however, go to the 1983 Pan American Games and claimed silver and bronze medals in free sprint events, then qualified for the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, reaching the finals in both the 100 and 200, where he finished fifth and sixth, respectively.
And now 35 years later, both of Mestre’s sons, Alberto Jr., of Stanford, and Alfonso, of Florida, will be competing at the Games; Alberto in the 50 free and Alfonso in the 800 free, which will be a first-time Olympic event. The two will become the eighth set of…
