2014-15:
· NCAA Championships Qualifier (200 & 400 IM, 200 Fly)
· Blanco competed primarily in the backstroke, butterfly and individual medley events
· Broke the program record in the 200 IM at the Big Ten Championships to finish his career as the record holder in both IM events
· Also swam the leadoff leg on the record-setting 800 free relay and the butterfly leg on the record-setting 200 medley relay at Big Tens
· Finished his career ranked among the Purdue all-time Top 10 in the 200 free (1:36.38, 3rd), 100 back (48.43, 6th), 200 back (1:44.16, 4th), 200 fly (1:45.32, 3rd) as well as both IM events
· Accounted for 44 team points, good for second on the team, at the Big Ten Championships by finishing in the A final of the 200 and 400 IM along with the 200 fly; was Purdue's only swimmer to score in three different individual events at Big Tens in 2015
· Finished 29th in the prelims of the 400 IM for his top showing at the NCAA Championships
· Accounted for 13 individual victories throughout the season to rank second on the team and first among swimmers
· Also contributed to five relay winners
· Accounted for the team's season-best time in four events (200 free, 200 back, 200 IM and 400 IM) as well as the second-best showing the 200 fly
· Broke the 200 IM record while finishing third in the A final at Big Tens
· Won multiple events at the Big Ten Triple Duals as well as dual meets against Indiana, Notre Dame and Miami
· Finished third in the A final of the 200 fly and 200 IM at the Minnesota Grand Prix
· Also won his heat and was the top qualifier for the A final of the 400 IM at the Minnesota Grand Prix but was disqualified due to an illegal turn
· Finished his career by accounting for 103 team points at the Big Ten Championships, third-best among his senior class even though he competed in one fewer Big Tens.
2013-14:
· NCAA Championships Qualifier (200 IM, 400 IM, 200 Back, Relays)
· Blanco was Purdue's most versatile swimmer, competing in nine different individual events throughout the season
· Honored as the team's co-MVP
· Established a new program record in the 400 IM (3:47.02) at the Classic @ SMU, eclipsing a mark that had stood since 2007
· Named the MVP of the prestigious six-team Classic @ SMU after scoring a meet-high 46 points, racing in the A final of four different individual events
· Led the team with 16 individual victories in 2013-14
· Also contributed to five relay winners
· Accounted for 24 team points at the Big Ten Championships after finishing in the A final of the 400 IM as well as third in the B finals of the 200 fly and 200 IM
· Season-best times in seven different events ranked among the top five on the team in 2013-14: 400 IM (3:44.32, 1st), 200 IM (1:44.89, 1st), 200 fly (1:46.15), 200 back (1:45.22, 1st), 100 back (48.78, 2nd), 200 free (1:38.21, 2nd) and 100 fly (49.64)
· Helped Purdue post a season-best time in the 800 free relay (6:34.96) at the Minnesota Grand Prix
· In program history, moved up to second place in the 200 IM and third in the 200 fly while continuing to rank fourth in the 200 back and sixth in the 100 back
· Was victorious in three events (200 back, 200 fly and 400 IM) in the dual meet victory vs. Notre Dame
· Won the 200 fly and 400 IM in the dual meet vs. No. 1-ranked Michigan... touched first in the 200 back and 200 IM in dual win at Hawaii
· Took the 100 fly and 200 free in the dual victory vs. Miami (Ohio)
· Won the 200 fly and 200 IM at the November Quad
· Qualified for the A final in four events (100 & 200 back, 200 & 400 IM) at the Minnesota Grand Prix.
2012-13:
· Blanco competed primarily in the backstroke and IM events
· Accounted for Purdue's season-best time in the 400 IM (3:48.23) while winning the event at the Purdue Invitational
· Season-best times in the 200 free (1:39.11, 3rd), 200 back (1:48.19, 3rd) and 200 breast (2:02.36, 2nd) also ranked among the top five on the team in 2012-13
· In program history, ranks among the Purdue all-time Top 10 in the 200 (5th) and 400 IM (3rd), 100 (5th) and 200 back (4th)
· Accounted for 36 team points at the Purdue Invitational by winning the A final of the 400 IM, winning the B final of the 200 breast and finishing second in the B final of the 200 back
· Also swam on the top 400 and 800 free relay teams at the Purdue Invite
· Won the 200 free and 200 IM in the dual meet win at Miami (Ohio)
· Missed the second half of the season before returning to the active roster in the summer of 2013.
2011-12:
· Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Jan. 31)
· Blanco joined the team during the semester break and went on to set new Purdue freshman records in the 100 back (48.43) and 400 IM (3:48.79)
· Broke a Purdue freshman record in the 400 IM that had stood since 1994, the longest standing benchmark in the record book
· Also excelled in the 200 back and 200 IM
· Accounted for 35 team points individually at the Big Ten Championships, qualifying for the A final of both IM events
· Took fourth in the 400 IM (3:48.79) and sixth in the 200 IM (1:46.15), posting season-best times
· Eclipsed the Purdue freshman record in the 200 IM at the Big Ten Championships only to see teammate Lyam Dias finish faster in the event later that night
· Broke the 100 back freshman record on the opening leg of the 400 medley relay at Big Tens
· Runner-up in the B final of the 200 back (1:44.16) at the Big Ten Championships with a season-best time
· Also posted a season-best time of 48.43 in the C final of the 100 back at Big Tens
· Swam on the 800 free and 400 medley relays at Big Ten Championships
· Won the 400 IM and finished second in the 200 IM and 200 back at the Big Ten Quad to garner Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors
· Won the 200 back and 200 IM in the Big Ten Network live TV dual meet at Indiana
· Won the 400 IM in the dual meet win against Michigan State, his first meet at Purdue
· His season-best times ranked among the top five on the team in the 100 and 200 back, 200 breast (2:02.44) and 200 and 400 IM.
Before Purdue:
· Joined the program at the beginning of the 2012 spring semester after attending school at I.E.S. Ortega and Gasset in his native Madrid
· Accomplished swimmer in the breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke is projected to compete most frequently in IM and backstroke events for Purdue
· Son of Francisco Blanco and Josefina Benedicto
· Also has a younger sister, Belen Blanco Benedicto
· Enjoying longboarding, fixing bikes, music, tattoos and photography
· Majoring in computer graphics technology.
Purdue Personal Preferences
Favorite Pro Team: Real Madrid
Favorite Aquatic Center (Other Than Purdue): M-86
Swimmer He'd Like to Race Against: Tyler Clay
Person He'd Like to Have Dinner With: Sasha Grey
In His MP3 Player: Red Hot Chili Peppers
Last Concert He Attended: Ultra Europe
Favorite Actor & Actress: James Dean & Marilyn Monroe
Favorite Director: Steven Spielberg
Favorite Month: May
Favorite Food: Sushi
Favorite Purdue Building: Lawson Computer Science Building
Favorite Big City: Madrid
Country He'd Most Like to Visit: Japan
Another Sport He Enjoys Playing: Soccer
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Biking
Enjoyed this Professor's Class: Raymond Hassan, Computer Graphics Technology
Furry Friend: Polo, Spanish Waterdog
· NCAA Championships Qualifier (200 & 400 IM, 200 Fly)
· Blanco competed primarily in the backstroke, butterfly and individual medley events
· Broke the program record in the 200 IM at the Big Ten Championships to finish his career as the record holder in both IM events
· Also swam the leadoff leg on the record-setting 800 free relay and the butterfly leg on the record-setting 200 medley relay at Big Tens
· Finished his career ranked among the Purdue all-time Top 10 in the 200 free (1:36.38, 3rd), 100 back (48.43, 6th), 200 back (1:44.16, 4th), 200 fly (1:45.32, 3rd) as well as both IM events
· Accounted for 44 team points, good for second on the team, at the Big Ten Championships by finishing in the A final of the 200 and 400 IM along with the 200 fly; was Purdue's only swimmer to score in three different individual events at Big Tens in 2015
· Finished 29th in the prelims of the 400 IM for his top showing at the NCAA Championships
· Accounted for 13 individual victories throughout the season to rank second on the team and first among swimmers
· Also contributed to five relay winners
· Accounted for the team's season-best time in four events (200 free, 200 back, 200 IM and 400 IM) as well as the second-best showing the 200 fly
· Broke the 200 IM record while finishing third in the A final at Big Tens
· Won multiple events at the Big Ten Triple Duals as well as dual meets against Indiana, Notre Dame and Miami
· Finished third in the A final of the 200 fly and 200 IM at the Minnesota Grand Prix
· Also won his heat and was the top qualifier for the A final of the 400 IM at the Minnesota Grand Prix but was disqualified due to an illegal turn
· Finished his career by accounting for 103 team points at the Big Ten Championships, third-best among his senior class even though he competed in one fewer Big Tens.
2013-14:
· NCAA Championships Qualifier (200 IM, 400 IM, 200 Back, Relays)
· Blanco was Purdue's most versatile swimmer, competing in nine different individual events throughout the season
· Honored as the team's co-MVP
· Established a new program record in the 400 IM (3:47.02) at the Classic @ SMU, eclipsing a mark that had stood since 2007
· Named the MVP of the prestigious six-team Classic @ SMU after scoring a meet-high 46 points, racing in the A final of four different individual events
· Led the team with 16 individual victories in 2013-14
· Also contributed to five relay winners
· Accounted for 24 team points at the Big Ten Championships after finishing in the A final of the 400 IM as well as third in the B finals of the 200 fly and 200 IM
· Season-best times in seven different events ranked among the top five on the team in 2013-14: 400 IM (3:44.32, 1st), 200 IM (1:44.89, 1st), 200 fly (1:46.15), 200 back (1:45.22, 1st), 100 back (48.78, 2nd), 200 free (1:38.21, 2nd) and 100 fly (49.64)
· Helped Purdue post a season-best time in the 800 free relay (6:34.96) at the Minnesota Grand Prix
· In program history, moved up to second place in the 200 IM and third in the 200 fly while continuing to rank fourth in the 200 back and sixth in the 100 back
· Was victorious in three events (200 back, 200 fly and 400 IM) in the dual meet victory vs. Notre Dame
· Won the 200 fly and 400 IM in the dual meet vs. No. 1-ranked Michigan... touched first in the 200 back and 200 IM in dual win at Hawaii
· Took the 100 fly and 200 free in the dual victory vs. Miami (Ohio)
· Won the 200 fly and 200 IM at the November Quad
· Qualified for the A final in four events (100 & 200 back, 200 & 400 IM) at the Minnesota Grand Prix.
2012-13:
· Blanco competed primarily in the backstroke and IM events
· Accounted for Purdue's season-best time in the 400 IM (3:48.23) while winning the event at the Purdue Invitational
· Season-best times in the 200 free (1:39.11, 3rd), 200 back (1:48.19, 3rd) and 200 breast (2:02.36, 2nd) also ranked among the top five on the team in 2012-13
· In program history, ranks among the Purdue all-time Top 10 in the 200 (5th) and 400 IM (3rd), 100 (5th) and 200 back (4th)
· Accounted for 36 team points at the Purdue Invitational by winning the A final of the 400 IM, winning the B final of the 200 breast and finishing second in the B final of the 200 back
· Also swam on the top 400 and 800 free relay teams at the Purdue Invite
· Won the 200 free and 200 IM in the dual meet win at Miami (Ohio)
· Missed the second half of the season before returning to the active roster in the summer of 2013.
2011-12:
· Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Jan. 31)
· Blanco joined the team during the semester break and went on to set new Purdue freshman records in the 100 back (48.43) and 400 IM (3:48.79)
· Broke a Purdue freshman record in the 400 IM that had stood since 1994, the longest standing benchmark in the record book
· Also excelled in the 200 back and 200 IM
· Accounted for 35 team points individually at the Big Ten Championships, qualifying for the A final of both IM events
· Took fourth in the 400 IM (3:48.79) and sixth in the 200 IM (1:46.15), posting season-best times
· Eclipsed the Purdue freshman record in the 200 IM at the Big Ten Championships only to see teammate Lyam Dias finish faster in the event later that night
· Broke the 100 back freshman record on the opening leg of the 400 medley relay at Big Tens
· Runner-up in the B final of the 200 back (1:44.16) at the Big Ten Championships with a season-best time
· Also posted a season-best time of 48.43 in the C final of the 100 back at Big Tens
· Swam on the 800 free and 400 medley relays at Big Ten Championships
· Won the 400 IM and finished second in the 200 IM and 200 back at the Big Ten Quad to garner Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors
· Won the 200 back and 200 IM in the Big Ten Network live TV dual meet at Indiana
· Won the 400 IM in the dual meet win against Michigan State, his first meet at Purdue
· His season-best times ranked among the top five on the team in the 100 and 200 back, 200 breast (2:02.44) and 200 and 400 IM.
Before Purdue:
· Joined the program at the beginning of the 2012 spring semester after attending school at I.E.S. Ortega and Gasset in his native Madrid
· Accomplished swimmer in the breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke is projected to compete most frequently in IM and backstroke events for Purdue
· Son of Francisco Blanco and Josefina Benedicto
· Also has a younger sister, Belen Blanco Benedicto
· Enjoying longboarding, fixing bikes, music, tattoos and photography
· Majoring in computer graphics technology.
Purdue Personal Preferences
Favorite Pro Team: Real Madrid
Favorite Aquatic Center (Other Than Purdue): M-86
Swimmer He'd Like to Race Against: Tyler Clay
Person He'd Like to Have Dinner With: Sasha Grey
In His MP3 Player: Red Hot Chili Peppers
Last Concert He Attended: Ultra Europe
Favorite Actor & Actress: James Dean & Marilyn Monroe
Favorite Director: Steven Spielberg
Favorite Month: May
Favorite Food: Sushi
Favorite Purdue Building: Lawson Computer Science Building
Favorite Big City: Madrid
Country He'd Most Like to Visit: Japan
Another Sport He Enjoys Playing: Soccer
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Biking
Enjoyed this Professor's Class: Raymond Hassan, Computer Graphics Technology
Furry Friend: Polo, Spanish Waterdog