Henrique Martins Adds Another Sub-52 100 Fly, Goes 51.76

At the Torneio Sudeste meet in Belo Horizonte, about 250 miles north of Rio de Janeiro, Henrique Martins threw down another 51-second 100 fly. Martins split 24.82 on the way down in the first 50, then came home in 26.94 for a final time of 51.76. Though not his first time under 52 of late, a sub-52 in early summer is a promising sign for the Brazilian butterflier.

Meet results

His other recent 51’s both came from the 2017 Maria Lenk Trophy, also known as Brazilian nationals. In prelims of the 100 fly at Maria Lenk, Martins posted a 51.57, which was, at the time, the fourth-fastest 100 fly of 2017. He added a little time in finals, but still won the event in 51.82.

2016-2017 LCM Men 100 Fly

2Kristof
MILAK
HUN50.62*WJR07/29
3James
GUY
GBR50.6707/28
4Joseph
Schooling
SIN50.7807/28
5Laszlo
CSEH
HUN50.9207/29
View Top 28»

Martins has been Brazil’s best 100 butterflier thus far in the season (if he had never gone his 51.57 from Maria Lenk prelims, his 51.76 from the Belo Horizonte meet would still rank 5th in the world for 2017). No other Brazilian has broken 52 this season, nor do any rank in the top 10– the closest is 11th-ranked Vini Lanza at 52.02.

Nevertheless, Martins and Lanza are the fastest 100 butterfliers that Brazil has seen since 2009. The two fastest performers in Brazilian history are Gabriel Mangabeira (51.02) and Kaio Marcio (51.51), and both of those men clocked those times in 2009. Martins and Lanza currently come in at #3 and #4 on Brazil’s all-time performers list, and this summer Martins looks especially primed to zero in on that national record.

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ERVINFORTHEWIN
7 years ago

Very solid time !!!!

PACFAN
7 years ago

26.9 on the way home is nutty.

He’s been 23 low in the 50 fly, so if he can do a 23 high, 26 mid going out and back (or even better) he could jump out as someone to contend with Schooling, Le Clos, Shields, etc.

Rafael
Reply to  PACFAN
7 years ago

If he goes 50 high 51 flat Brazil could get close to China (Without Zetao of Course) to try to battle for Bronze on Medley

2Fat4Speed
Reply to  Rafael
7 years ago

Brazil always has potential in the relays, then nothing….

Rafael
Reply to  2Fat4Speed
7 years ago

Not Always, the only relay which had some potential in the last 2 years were the Free Relay… the Medley was a potential finalist (And it was a finalist) but not a potential medalists.. even now if is not.. the Bronze Change might be achieavable only if Zetao does not swim.. if he does no one can catch USA GBR and CHI

About Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon studied sociology at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, graduating in May of 2018. He began swimming on a club team in first grade and swam four years for Wesleyan.

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