1980 Olympic Bronze Medalist Djan Madruga Breaks Masters World Record (USMS Day 2)

2023 US MASTERS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Two more World Records fell on day two of the 2023 US Masters Swimming National Championships in Sarasota, Florida, including one set by a three-time Olympian.

Day 2 Records:

  • Holly Green, Swamp Water Aquatics Gainesville: women’s 60-64 50 backstroke (33.57, World Aquatics world Masters record and USMS record)
  • Richard Burns, Tamalpais Aquatic Masters: men’s 80-84 100 butterfly (1:32.54, USMS record)
  • Djan Madruga, DJAN: men’s 65-69 800 freestyle (9:48.95, World Aquatics world Masters record)
  • Club Tribe: mixed 72-99 200 freestyle relay (1:44.13, USMS record)

Djan Madruga, who is representing his Brazilian club at the meet, set the World Aquatics World Masters Record in the men’s 65-69, 800 meter freestyle.

His time of 9:48.95 broke the old record of 9:53.52 that Australian Paul Blackbeard set in April of this year.

Madruga, who turns 65 in December, is a three-time Olympian for his home country of Brazil, representing his country at the 1976, 1980, and 1984 Olympics. That included a bronze medal in the 800 free relay at the 1980 Games in Moscow and a gold medal at the 1979 World University Games.

In 1980, he became the second swimmer in history to break the 8 minute barrier in the 800 meter free, behind Vladimir Salnikov. That swim stood as the South American Record for 29 years until Luiz Arapiraca broke it in a Jaked polyurethane suit. Madruga subsequently offered a reward of $5,000 to anyone who could break it without a supersuit.

He broke several South American Records of his career, many of which stood for more than a decade. That includes breaking the South American Record in the 400 free seven times. In 1984, he would also break the Ironman Hawaii record on the swimming stage of the race.

The other day 2 World Record to fall went to Holly Green of Swamp Water Aquatics Gainesville in Gainesville, Florida. The program is centered around training athletes for triathlons.

Green’s swim broke the 60-64 World Masters Record in the 50 backstroke, swimming 33.57. That broke the record of Hall of Fame masters swimmer Karlyn Pipes, who swam 33.82 last May.

Other Notable Day 2 Winners:

  • Erika Braun, current holder of 49 USMS records, won the women’s 50-54 100 breaststroke in 1:22.47. She later won the 100 fly in 1:08.03.
  • Masters World Record holder Katie Glenn, won the 45-49 age group in 1:15.88, the fastest time of the day.
  • USMS Director of Communications Daniel Paulling won the men’s 35-39 50 meter backstroke in 31.00.
  • 1960 double Olympic gold medalist Jeff Farrell won the men’s 85-89 age group in the 50 meter backstroke in 49.28.
  • 1972 triple Olympic gold medalist Melissa Belote Ripley won the women’s 65-69 age group in the 50 back in 37.23.
  • Masters Hall of Fame swimmer Laura Val won the 70-74 age group in the 50 back in 34.96.

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Cynthia curran
1 year ago

What amazes me about Val is she is older than Ripley that went to the olympics and swam a 50 backstroke 2 seconds faster than Ripley.. As for the Brazilan swimmer he keesp in shape enought o swin the long districts at his age.

mds
Reply to  Cynthia curran
1 year ago

Val has been at the front of the Masters pack for the last 35-40 years, the time frame wherein Melissa has been primarily involved as an Age Group and High School coach. The times are primarily a reflection of where each swimmer has been focused over the last multiple decades.

ecoach
1 year ago

Swam with Djan at IU in 1980. Was tough as nails then and apparently is still.

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