Coming into the 2012 Maria Lenk Trophy, Felipe Franca de Silva boasted that he was gunning for a World Record. Not a textile-best; not a record in the 50 where he was last year the World Champion, but in the 100 breaststroke, where he had never even broken a minute before.
And he wasn’t waiting until London to do it either. He said it was going down at Maria Lenk.
Some snickered in the shadows; saying that the man whose training diet consisted of a whole lot of McNuggets and double cheeseburgers could possibly break a World Record.
But then a new Silva emerged on deck in Rio. A Silva who’s lost between 15 and 25 pounds since last year’s World Championships, depending on who you ask. One who looks more like an athlete. He posted a huge 59.63 in the prelims to take the top seed by half-a-second.
He’s still a long way off of the World Record – that 58.58 belonging to Australian Brenton Rickard is very fast. But this is a record that could go down this year – Alexander Dale Oen got within .2 last year.
He’s going to get a strong push from Felipe Lima, who has the second seed in 1:00.11, which is a best time for him as well. For reference, the Brazilian Record is 59.06, held by Henrique Barbosa, who is the 3rd seed in this final in 1:00.85. 5 swimmers were already under 1:01 in prelims.
In other prelims, Laure Manaudou coasted to a 2:16.88 to top the 200 back. Leonardo dos Santos topped the men’s version in 1:58.66 that is easily a best time (and in a much more competitive race) ahead of Thiago Pereira in 2:00.86. That should be a great final, as Fernando do Santos and Andre Schultz should also be 2:00’s or better.
Jeanette Ottesen wam the fastest 50 fly time in the world with a 25.68 in the women’s race; Glauber Silva, Fred Bousquet, and Cesar Cielo were all 23.7’s or better in the 50 fly.
More recaps after finals. Live Results available here.
WOW! I, for one, can be counted among those who doubted him! A trait inherited from soccer athletes, Brazilians either talk trash (Felipe) or downplay themselves (Cielo).
Like you said, this is his first time under the minute barrier..so, I just thought he was full of $#@*. NOW, I am really rooting for him to, at least, go a sub 59s at finals. Let’s see.
If he does, suddenly the 400 medley relay is looking good to at least make finals in London. It will boil down to what kind of time Pereira swims on the backstroke leg (assuming he’s the one – he’s being vying for that spot).
Pereira wanted a spot on the 200 free also. He… Read more »
If that’s the case, good luck Pereira. He’s up against record holder Guido and the new guy who just went 24.4 in the 50, aka one of the fastest ever
Yes! Daniel Orzechowski. Let’s see!
Pereira just swam 1:57.39 on the 200 back!
1:57.38 from de Deus though! What a race…
Yes. Pereira was more than a body length ahead, and faded. And de Deus charged to the end!