Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York City, Cesar's parents started him in swimming when he was five-years-old. In high school, he was a member of Esperanza Prep's swim team in East Harlem, where he was a sprinter specializing in the 50 free. When he was 16, he also began teaching swim lessons - first at Asphalt Green. Cesar currently attends the Borough of Manhattan Community College, as a Criminal Justice major. Outside of the water and the classroom, he enjoys a handful of sports, including baseball, basketball, and soccer.