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: