Christina Guintu
Women's Swimming & Diving
2001 – Muir – Biochemistry/Cell Biology
Christina Guintu (Guintu) (Swimming and Diving, 2001) loves competition. She first began swimming at the age of 10, swimming on different U.S. Swimming clubs through middle school. During her high school years at The Menlo School in Atherton, California, she placed all her focus on swimming and began training at elite level swim club De Anza Cupertino Aquatics, in hopes of one day swimming on a college team. Her dream came true in 1997 when she made the UC San Diego Women’s Swimming and Diving Team.
After four successful years as a Triton student-athlete, her competitiveness grew even stronger. Guintu still swims and surfs as much as she can—“I can’t get enough of the water!” In addition, she has now set her focus on the latest rage in extreme sport, Tough Mudders: a rigorous 10 to 12 mile obstacle course that tests the limits of strength, endurance, and teamwork. Most would have a hard time finishing one…but Guintu has already successfully completed eight. The challenge motivates her to stay fit, and she says “it satisfies and fuels my competitive nature.”
This competitiveness also drives Guintu in her job as Regional Account Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “In sales, there’s always someone trying to go after the same business you are,” she says. For Christina, this aspect of competition is one of the most rewarding parts of her job. She credits her four years as a Triton swimmer in preparing her for challenges faced daily in the professional setting. Athletics “teaches you to deal with victory and loss,” she says. Guintu excels in her field, and loves having a positive impact on her client’s success.
Guintu is adamant that being a Triton Alumni Athlete is everything to her. Having graduated from one of the most prestigious universities in California is a privilege she never takes for granted. “I feel very fortunate to have been able to swim all four years,” she says. “I really can’t imagine where I would be today if it were not for all the experiences and lessons I learned at UC San Diego.”
The most unforgettable moment of Guintu’s swim career was during her freshman year. One of her fellow teammates, David Samuels, was trying to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the 500 freestyle. At the last meet of the season before NCAA’s, Timothy McAteer, an All-American senior on the Triton squad, entered the 500 freestyle along with Dave, in hopes to set an appropriate pace for Dave to qualify for NCAA Championships. “The entire team was lined up on the side of the pool, screaming our heads off. Dave touched the wall, our eyes shot up to look at the clock, and he got his cut. I’m getting emotional just talking about it. I can see the pool, I can see everything happening. It was the ultimate moment for me to witness as a Triton; the ultimate team experience.”
Years later, Guintu was able to catch up with Tim when she competed in a Tough Mudder in Maine, where Tim now resides with his family. It was a special moment when these Tritons finally reconnected, reminiscing over that particular 500 freestyle event. Although years have passed, they will never forget the amazing times they shared as Triton student-athletes. Guintu's statement especially rings true: “There’s no other experience that compares to being on a team, and I am forever grateful to call myself a Triton.”
