Francisco Demetrio Sánchez Betancourt (born September 6, 1976 in Cumaná

Cumaná

Cumaná is the capital of Venezuela's Sucre State. It is located 402 km east of Caracas. It was the first settlement founded by Europeans in the mainland America, in 1501 by Franciscan friars, but due to successful attacks by the indigenous people, it had to be refounded several times...

) is a former butterfly

Butterfly stroke

The butterfly is a swimming stroke swum on the breast, with both arms moving simultaneously. The butterfly kick was developed separately, and is also known as the "dolphin kick"...

 and freestyle

Freestyle swimming

Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...

 swimmer from Venezuela

Venezuela

Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...

, who won the 50m Freestyle at the 1995 FINA Short Course World Championships

1995 FINA Short Course World Championships

The 2nd FINA World Swimming Championships were held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 30 November until 3 December 1995. This event was considered a trailblazer in the aspect of the organization of major championships in swimming...

 (25m) in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...

. Two years later, at the third edition of the event

1997 FINA Short Course World Championships

The 3rd FINA Short Course World Championships were held at the Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Sweden from April 17 – April 20, 1997.-Men:-Women:-Medal table:-References:* * *...

, the sprinter from South America triumphed in the 50m and the 100m Freestyle.

He swam collegiately for the USA's Arizona State University

Arizona State University

Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...

 in the late 1990s.

At the 1998 Central American and Caribbean Games

1998 Central American and Caribbean Games

The 18th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Maracaibo, Venezuela from August 8 to August 22, 1998 and included 31 nations and a total of 5,200 competitors.-Medals:-References:...

, he set Championship Records in both the 100 fly (53.86). This record stood until the 2006 Games

Swimming at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games

The swimming events at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games occurred July 17–22, 2006 at S.U. Pedro de Heredia Aquatic Complex in Cartagena, Colombia.-Participating countries:...

 where it was bettered by fellow Venezuelan Albert Subirats

Albert Subirats

Albert Subirats Altes is a 2-time Olympic and national record holding swimmer from Venezuela. He represented his homeland at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics...

.