WASHINGTON - In celebration of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, two-time graduate of American University men's swimming & diving Aldrich Elvambuena (‘23, ‘24) is sharing his experiences as a student-athlete. Elvambuena, who served for two years as President of AU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as well as the Patriot League's SAAC rep for the NCAA, is the son of two Filipinos and has been honored to represent the Philippines throughout his career.

For those of us that don’t know you very well, tell us about yourself: where you are from? What is your current major and why did you decide to attend AU?

I'm on the men’s swimming & diving team, and I'm from Frisco, Texas. I recently graduated with my M.S. in Analytics at AU (2023-24) but I also got my B.S. in Business Administration (2020-2023). I came to AU because of the school’s strong educational programs, the swim team’s welcoming team culture, and the unique opportunities that are present being in DC.

At what age were you introduced to swimming? 

I first started swim lessons when I was 5 and then began swimming competitively when I was 6!

How important is it and what does it mean to you to be representing your culture while being a student-athlete at AU?

It means the world being able to represent my parents' home country, the Philippines, at the NCAA level! One thing I love about AU is its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion which is one of the many reasons why I am always proud to represent American. It’s incredibly important that representation exists across all sports to inspire future generations to try them all!

What are some differences that you noticed in the culture of swimming from your perspective and those of teammates that are from the US or from other cultures? Did/do these differences make you feel more or less included in each of the teams?

Throughout my swimming career I had to find ways to make up for factors outside of my control. When you think of a swimmer, usually you think of someone tall, lean, and well-built. As I grew older, I knew I would have to overcome the disadvantages that I already faced even before we started the race. I made sure to work as hard as possible, and utilize my strengths like underwater kicks to make up for my height and reach. Thankfully, I grew up with many other Asian-American swimmers but I noticed when I competed in college, our representation decreased. I will always be grateful though that my teammates have always supported my culture and heritage! The swimmers and coaches were all so welcoming and I hope I can take some of them to the Philippines one day!

There aren't many minorities in swimming & diving. What do you think are the reasons and how can we encourage them to participate in this sport?

I think the reason why there’s a lack of AAPI representation in sports is due to its low prioritization, and stereotypes. Many people underestimate the powerful lessons you learn by being in a sport such as self-discipline, drive, confidence, and time-management. By increasing student-athlete voices I hope we can share how sports can not only transform our lives, but also theirs.

What was the most favorite part of your experience as an athlete, specifically one of a minority background?

My favorite part of my experience as an athlete was representing AU and the Patriot League on the NCAA Division I SAAC. I had the opportunity to serve on the NCAA Committee on Academics, and helped create training materials and projects surrounding the student-athlete experience. I got the chance to talk with athletes from all backgrounds to boost DEI in sports as well as the importance of mental health. By being in this position I was also the president of the Patriot League SAAC where we created campaigns such as the “Mental Health Matters” campaign which included planning a joint mental health convention and speaking on a student-athlete panel with the Ivy League. We also created the “I Make My Voice Heard” campaign which supported student-athletes to use their platforms to spread awareness for issues they are passionate about.

The Filipino culture has amazing dishes and delicacies. What is your favorite dish from your culture and why? 

I have a very bad sweet tooth so any of the desserts were always my favorite! A few of my favorites include Ube (purple yam), Suman (sticky rice), and Halo-halo (shaved ice)!

Like most cultures, the Filipino culture also has many traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. What is your personal favorite tradition that your family still practices?

My favorite tradition that was passed down to me was my parents teaching me Tagalog, one of the many dialects in the Philippines! I am thankful that they taught me how to speak Tagalog because I was able to embrace my culture through art and films while also creating a stronger connection with my family members across the world.

What is something that you would want everyone to know (who isn't Asian/Pacific American) about your culture and why?

The word “Mabuhay” in Tagalog means long live. It can be used as a hello or a thank you. I want to pass along this word by saying “Mabuhay AU, and Mabuhay AU Swim & Dive!” I truly had the best four years at AU and I am incredibly thankful for the opportunities and experiences I was able to have by being an AU student-athlete. Thank you for allowing me to achieve my highest aspirations while getting to compete and represent my culture at the DI level!