ACC Power Couple: Wedded Pair of Louisville Cardinals Both Finish Top 8 In IM Events

The more successful a swimmer you are, the more difficult it becomes to find space for all the awards you’ve earned through the years. For Tommy Bried and Fernanda Celidonio, the problem has now doubled, as the recently married couple are both bringing accolades home to Louisville from the 2025 ACC Championships. 

It’s been a whirlwind few months for the couple, who got married in November. Shortly after, Celidonio flew to Budapest and represented Brazil at the 2024 Short Course World Championships. She made the semifinals in the 100-meter IM and led off Brazil’s eighth-place 4×200-meter freestyle relay at the championships. 

When the calendar flipped to 2025, the focus shifted to Louisville’s final dual meets and the championship season. The pair said “not much has changed” since they tied the knot even with their busy schedules. The next big event after the 2024 Short Course Worlds was the new-look conference championship, where both Celidonio and Bried raced. Bried won the 400 IM ACC championship, swimming a lifetime best 3:39.28 in prelims and finals. Celidonio was also in the top 8 in her respective individual medley event, the 200 IM, swimming a season-best 1:56.51 in prelims. 

In addition to their shared success in the IMs, both made a finals appearance in the 200 breaststroke, with Bried placing 8th and Celidonio 13th. Bried also won the 200 butterfly ‘B’ final. 

The double success in the IM events wasn’t necessarily something they had in mind entering the week, as the couple said that while they will share their goals, goal-setting remains an individual process. They also only get to train with each other about once a week, as they have different focuses within the discipline, with Celidonio concentrating on the 200 IM and Bried on the 400. 

 

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Still, they met through the team, which they honored at their wedding ceremony by choosing head coach Arthur Albiero to officiate. “It was so special,” to have him involved in the ceremony, Bried said. Celidonio emphasized that as he recruited both of them, he is responsible for them getting the chance to meet. “He was nervous, but he did a great job,” Bried continued, sharing that Albiero did manage to work some swimming material into his speech. 

The Louisville women finished 3rd at the ACC Championships, while the men placed 5th. Next, Celidonio, Bried, and the rest of the Cardinals will turn their attention to next month’s NCAA Championships.