Cuban Hanser Garcia travels to Spain for FINA Championship

HAVANA - Cuban swimmer Hanser Garcia, Olympic finalist in the 100m freestyle, Tuesday traveled to Spain where he expects to have a good performance in the FINA World Championships in Barcelona.

"I am not promising medals, but I will do my best. I hope to achieve a good result," said Garcia minutes after going aboard the plane in Havana's airport.

The twice-medal winner in Guadalajara 2011 Pan-American Games, silver in 100m and bronze in 50m freestyle, said he is improving his starting technique to obtain a higher result.

Garcia, 24, and the only Cuban swimmer with an "A" score (48.82 seconds in the 100m competition), leads the 15-member Cuban delegation, which includes other three swimmers plus a three-member team of synchronized swimming and seven divers.

In June, Garcia won the 100m competition in Barcelona Grand Prix, from the prestigious European circuit "Mare Nostrum", with a time of 49.14 seconds.

In the history of world aquatics championships, which began in 1973, Cuba has won two medals, one silver and one bronze.

Barcelona's championship, to last until Aug 4, gathers 1,200 athletes from 170 countries in six events of swimming, synchronized swimming, water polo, diving, open waters and "high diving".