Esmeralda's relationship with the water began at Jones Beach, where summer weekends with her father turned into a lifelong passion. After honing her strokes at the YMCA in Jamaica, Queens and competing as a standout for the MS217 Hawks, Esmeralda discovered her calling while lifeguarding, inspired by the transformative power of a swim lesson. Now a pre-medical student at Queens College, she blends her background in health sciences with a patient, nurturing teaching style. As the eldest sibling in her family, she finds immense joy in connecting with kids and witnessing their breakthrough moments. When she’s not poolside, the trilingual soccer player enjoys weightlifting and travel. Fun fact: Esmeralda speaks English, Spanish, and Kiche, a Mayan Guatemalan language!