Andre Souza Leads Brazilian Trials 100 FR Prelims at PR 48.0, Six Men Break 49

2021 BRAZILIAN OLYMPIC TRIALS

The fourth day of prelims at the 2021 Brazilian Olympic Trials featured the men’s 100 free, one of the most highly anticipated events. The Brazilian men’s sprinting tradition is a strong one, and they’re in the mix of countries expected to vie for medals in the 4×100 free relay in Tokyo this summer.

Those prelims were no snooze, as six men broke the 49-second barrier, led by 20-year-old Andre Souza with a huge lifetime best of 48.09. That ranks him #6 all-time in Brazilian history.

Souza’s old best was a 48.74 at the Maria Lenk Trophy in April 2019, done when he was 18. This morning, he was 23.0/25.0 on his splits, able to finish well ahead of Pedro Spajari (48.55). Souza now ranks #8 in the world this year.

2020-2021 LCM Men 100 Free

2Kyle
Chalmers
AUS47.0807/29
3Kliment
Kolesnikov
RUS47.1107/27
4David
Popovici
ROU47.3007/08
5Alessandro
Miressi
ITA47.4505/19
6Maxime
Grousset
FRA47.5207/25
7Sunwoo
Hwang
KOR47.5607/27
8Andrei
Minakov
RUS47.5710/30
9Thomas
Ceccon
ITA47.7107/27
10Zach
Apple
USA47.7206/17
View Top 26»

Spajari was clear in second, with four 48-highs following. Lucas Peixoto, another 20-year-old, erased his old best of 49.36 from the South American Championships earlier this year to take third at 48.82, his first time under 49. Breno Correia was fourth in 48.87, ahead of Felipe Souza (48.94) and the oldest competitor to make the final by five years, veteran Marcelo Chierighini (48.95). Also making the final were 2000-born Victor Alcara (49.19 best time) and 1998-born Marco Ferreira (49.20).

Gabriel Santos, the #5 performer in Brazilian history with a 47.98 from 2018, missed the final by .02 at ninth with a 49.22, going out hard (23.04) but not able to bring it home (26.18).

Correia and Chierighini swam for Team Brazil in the individual 100 free at 2019 Worlds, and they made the final, with Chierighini cracking a 47.93 for fifth and Correia taking eighth. Spajari was also on the 4×100 free relay at Worlds which took sixth, while Andre Souza (the prelims leader today) swam on the prelims relay, replaced by 50 free specialist Bruno Fratus in the final.

Fratus, a staple in the Brazilian swimming world, attempted Tokyo qualification in the 50 free at the Mission Viejo PSS meet recently, where he went a 21.73 to get under the cut. That meet was designated as his Trials meet as he’s been training in the States. Should that time hold up with the 50 free here at the Brazilian Trials, he can join the team for Tokyo.

The favorite to win the men’s 200 breast tonight, Georgia Tech star Caio Pumputis, led the prelims with a 2:16.37 ahead of Raphael Rodrigues (2:17.67). Pumputis’s lifetime best is a 2:09.93, which is a few tenths better than the FINA ‘A’ cut of 2:10.35– he’ll target that tonight.

In the sole women’s prelims, Giovanna Diamante swam to the leading 200 fly time. She clocked a 2:15.64, which is well off of the FINA ‘A’ cut needed for Brazilian team selection, a 2:08.43. Her best time of 2:11.82 is much closer to the cut, though; she went that time in 2019 to make her the #3 performer in Brazilian history.

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Commonwealths>Pan Pacs
3 years ago

GB men still haven’t been added so rankings this year aren’t correct.

Doin
3 years ago

Is it just me that think this is going to be the slowest Brazilian trials ever? Brazil definitely has an indoor pool they could use…Pinheiros, Curitibano, Unisanta, they also happen to have the 2016 Olympic pool??

2Fat4Speed
3 years ago

Bummer to see Santana go 50 point. For a little while he seemed like he might be the next big thing in sprinting.

Rafael
Reply to  2Fat4Speed
3 years ago

48,25 at 18.. but he has diabetes and his move to USA really did not work

KDB
3 years ago

Chieighini seems to be better for 50 free I think he is very strong and heavy to comeback in 100

Rafael
3 years ago

Lima will be a rabbit for Pumputis on 200.. he will go out fast as Pumputis wants to go on 1:01 and hold after that

3 years ago

Let’s hope for a better afternoon. With rainy conditions will be a huge surprise for anyone to break 48.

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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