Rodrigo Castro Class: Senior Hometown: Bello Horizonte, Brazil Last College: LSU Height: 6-1 Event: Free Birthdate: 12/21/1978

THIS SEASON: A 2002 senior, Brazilian Rodrigo Castro returns from an All-American campaign last year. He is a fine middle-distance freestyler who is also strong on relays.

2001: A 2001 junior transfer from Louisiana State, Castro joined the Trojans in the spring and immediately bolstered their freestyle corps. At the 2001 NCAA Championships, Castro was a three-time All-American, taking eighth in the 200y free (1:36.02) and swimming on USC’s second-place 800y free relay and its seventh-place 400y medley relay. He was also 39th in the 500y free (4:32.48) and swam on USC’s 11th-place 400y free relay … At the 2001 Pacific-10 Conference Championships, Castro was third in the 200y free (1:36.19), fourth in the 100y free (43.82) and 16th in the 500y free (4:35.05). Castro also swam on USC’s title-winning and Pac-10 meet record setting 800 free relay (6:24.77) … At the 2001 World Championships, Castro was 22nd in the 200m free (1:51.10) and also competed in the 400m free relay … At the 2001 Brazilian Nationals, Castro was first in the 400m free, second in the 200m free and third in the 100m free.

LSU: Castro competed for Louisiana State as a freshman and a sophomore in 1999-2000 before transferring to USC.

BRAZIL: He swam for Brazil at the 2000 Olympic Games and helped Brazil to a second-place showing in the 800m free relay at the 1999 Pan Am Games.

PERSONAL: He was born Dec. 21 1978 ... He is an economics major at USC ... He lists soccer star Pele as his biggest sports hero.

CASTRO'S PERSONAL RECORDS: