AS A JUNIOR (2025)
In her junior season, Fidalgo Garcia continued to shine in the pool for the Pioneers. They opened the season with a win over UCLA. In that meet, Fidalgo Garcia placed second in duet with Jennah Hafsi. With Team Minerva, she placed first. She also swam in A Figures and placed fourth. In the second meet of the season at the UIW Tri-Meet, Fidalgo Garcia placed fourth in duet with Hafsi, fourth in team with Team Minerva and sixth in trio with Hafsi and Hamoen. Then, at the MPSF Championships, the Pioneers finished third. Fidalgo Garcia placed sixth in duet, sixth in trio and fifth in team. In historical fashion, TWU claimed their first program win at the South Regional competition. At the South Regionals, Fidalgo Garcia placed second in duet with Hafsi. Team Minerva and Fidalgo Garcia placed first as a team at the competition. Additionally, she placed second in trio with Hafsi and Hamoen. Then, at Collegiate Nationals, the Pioneers finished fourth. Fidalgo Garcia recorded her highest career placement in A Figures, placing 15th. Fidalgo Garcia competed with Team Minerva, and they placed seventh in the field. Fidalgo Garcia was also named to the MPSF All-Academic Team for the second straight season.
AS A SOPHOMORE (2024)
Fidalgo Garcia started off her sophomore campaign at the Pioneers' dual meet against Stanford on Jan. 22, where she swam a duet with Regina Ramirez and placed fourth. Also against Stanford, she swam her solo debut and placed second. Finally, she swam team with Maya Schwickert, Makayla Crichton, Ashley Latchford, Regina Ramirez, Liberty Bowman, Kimberly Poitras and Maribella Falconer, placing third. Then, on Jan. 29 against Wheaton, she swam trio with Crichton and Schwickert, placing first. On Feb. 12, the Pioneers defeated Ohio State at home. Fidalgo Garcia was the top scorer for the Pioneers – placing first in solo, first in duet with Ramirez and second place in team. After her performance against Ohio State, Fidalgo Garcia was named the MPSF Swimmer of the Week - the first in TWU program history. At MPSF Championships on Feb. 19, she placed sixth in her duet with Ramirez and fifth in team. She helped lead the Pioneers to a third place finish at the championship. Fidalgo Garcia also helped lead the Pioneers to history at the U.S. Collegiate National Championships on March 23, as the Pioneers placed third – their highest placement in program history. She placed fourth in solo, fourth in duet with Ramirez and fifth place in team. She was also named to the MPSF All-Academic Team, received the USAAS All-Collegiate Award and was named a USAAS All-American. Finally, to cap off her season, Fidalgo Garcia placed second in solo at the 2024 U.S. Senior National Championships.
AS A FRESHMAN (2023)
In her freshman campaign, Fidalgo Garcia placed second in her trio debut for the Pioneers with a score of 71.3000 in their opener against Wheaton College (Mass.) on Jan. 28. Fidalgo Garcia contributed to a season high 78.2250 points in the trio competition at the Jessica Beck Memorial Competition against Ohio State and Michigan. She placed second in the B Competitions after scoring a 73.8393 at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships. Fidalgo Garcia also helped guide the team to a fourth place finish in the U.S. Collegiate Nationals and received the USA Artistic Swimming All-Collegiate Award.
PRIOR TO TWU
Candela Fidalgo Garcia, from Vigo, Spain, has competed in artistic swimming for 11 years. At Regional competitions in 2022, Fidalgo Garcia placed first in solo, first in team and first in highlight. She swam for Real Club Náutico de Vigo. She will be majoring in Medical Technology at TWU.
