Panamas Olympic Team boosted to 8

With only three days to go before the opening of the Olympic Games in London, Panama  unexpectedly  added another compeitor to the team bringing the total to eight.

The team includes reigning Olympic  long jump gold medalist Irving Saladino

The news came as a surprise to the country and to the new addition,  swimmer Diego Castillo, who was initially classified under the brand B (invitational), because initially his tim e was not ruled enough.

"The truth is that I  had already ruled  out my presence at the Olympics and had even lowered my training pace," said  21 year-old, who for nearly a month had lost all hope of going to the games.

The confusing situation, prompted him to deny through  Twitter, the “rumor” that the  International Swimming Federation (Fina) said he could compete in the 200 meters butterfly.

It took sixto  to seven hours after learning the news for  Castillo to make the decision to travel to London, after meeting and consulting with his family and other relatives, he said.

"Confirmed, I will attend the Olympics, just ask for your understanding with the result, as I have dropped my rhythm," said  Castillo’s Twitter message.

The Panamanian swimmer plans to the English capital from tomorrow, Wednesday, to join the delegation.

The other Panamanian competitors are swimmer, Edgar Crespo, Omar Simmods judoka, Carolena Carstens taekwondo, boxer Juan Huertas and athletics representatives Andrea Ferris, Alonso Edward and Irving Saladino.