Maria Elena GIUSTI LUGO

María Elena Giusti trained to be a ballerina but turned to synchronized swimming after watching the sport at the 1983 Pan American Games and the 1984 Olympics. While in high school she won the Central American and Caribbean Games in synchronized solo. Giusti studied in the United States at The Ohio State University, winning the NCAA title in senior figures in 1989, 1990, and 1991, and the 1989 NCAA solo title. She competed at the 1987, 1991, and 1995 Pan American Games, winning a silver medal in solo in 1991, and a bronze in 1995. She was named the Buckeyes Most Outstanding Swimmer in 1989 and earned Big Ten All-Academic honors. Giusti later married Giovanni Frigo, who swam for Venezuela at the 1984 Olympics. She also earned a masters’ degree from Ohio State, and later taught at The International School of Caracas and coached at the Sport Center Los Naranjos, also in Caracas.