The 2015 Portuguese National competition has come to a close, but not without the usual suspects of these championships ending the meet with some fireworks.
Day 1 Recap
Day 2 Recap
Day 3 Recap
Full Meet Results
It was Ana Leite again at the top of the podium, this time in the women’s 100m freestyle. Leite clocked a new national record of 56.41 to replace the previous mark of 56.80 held by Sara Alexandra Madeira since 2008. Leite already broke the 100m backstroke national record on day 3 of the meet, after having missed the 50m backstroke record by just over a tenth on the first day of competition.
Of her feat tonight, Leite told her swimming federation that “After being very close to beating the [100m freestyle] record in the Spanish Open, knew it was possible….It is the best phase of my career.” (fpnatacao.pt)
Another mover and shaker of the meet, Pedro Oliveira, had to settle for silver tonight in the 200m butterfly behind countryman Nuno Quintanilha who won the event in 1:58.77 to Oliveira’s 2:00.64. But, Oliveira turned around and successfully scored some redemption on his leadoff leg of Club Estrela’s 400 medley relay, where he lowered his own 100m backstroke national record down to a new mark of 55.42. Oliveira had already set a new record of 55.46 when he won the national 100m back title last night. That was already after the former University of Louisville swimmer raked in victories in the 50m and 200m backstroke events as well at this championships.
Two individual medley studs were able to register A-qualifying times for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games during this morning’s prelims session. Diogo Carvalho and Alexis Santos finished 1-2 in the 200m IM prelims with just hundredths separating them. Carvalho narrowly touched first, in a time of 2:00.00, immediately followed by Santos in his runner-up effort of 2:00.22. Both of these speedsters’ times dipped beneath the FINA minimum qualifying time of 2:00.28. According to the Portugal’s swimming federation website, this is the first time that the country will have two athletes swimming in the same event at an Olympic Games.
For his effort, Carvalho told his federation that “It was what I had planned to do here in Coimbra… The minimum for the Olympic Games. I ended the race with the feeling of accomplishment.” Carvalho and Santos are now ranked 6th and 7th in the world, respectively, in the 200 IM event.
Many of these same talented swimmers will be back in action next weekend at the Portuguese National Club Championships taking place on April 11th and 12th.