Olympic athlete pursuing Master of Engineering Management

Incoming Auburn University Industrial & Systems Engineering graduate student Adriel Sanes is currently fulfilling a lifelong dream by competing as a swimmer in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

A recent graduate of the mechanical engineering program from the University of Denver where he holds numerous swimming records, Sanes will enter the Master of Engineering Management program in the fall.

With an extra year of swimming eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanes saw it as the perfect opportunity to pursue graduate school. Auburn was one of the first schools to reach out to Sanes when he began his research and its reputation preceded it.

“I have some friends who attended Auburn and everyone I have talked to about Auburn really loves it,” Sanes said. “People say it’s a great place and has a great campus. It really intrigued me, and I feel like it will be the right place for me. I’m confident I made the right choice.”

Although he is unsure of his career path, Sanes chose the Master of Engineering Management program to gain more business knowledge.

“Having a business type of degree along with my mechanical engineering degree would be really great for me,” he said. “Engineering management was really intriguing for me because it’s still engineering but it has a business tie to it as well.”

Sanes is representing the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in the men's 200 breaststroke. He has been a competitive swimmer since he was a young child and has competed around the world in places such as South America, Europe and Asia.

Sanes holds University of Denver school records in the 200m freestyle, 200m medley, 200m breaststroke, 400m freestyle relay, 100m breaststroke and 200m medley relay. Competing in the Olympics has been a lifelong goal.

“Since I knew that I could make the national team for the Virgin Islands, which started around age 11 or 12, the Olympics has always been the ultimate goal,” he said. “It’s really exciting.”

Sanes is looking forward to beginning his graduate studies at Auburn and being a member of the Auburn swim team.

“The current Auburn University swim team has so much potential,” he said. “I believe it and I can see it. It will be great to be a part of such a historical program.”