Brazil Departs for Pre-Olympic Camp in Crystal Palace

A late-night post for a late-night voyage; at just 5 minutes before midnight local time in Sao Paulo (an hour ahead of New York), the Brazilian Olympic Team will board a flight, set to arrive at 3PM Monday to London’s Heathrow Airport for their pre-Olympic training camp.

The Brazilians will embark upon a destination that they have become quite familiar with the last few years – the Crystal Palace in south London’s Upper Norwood district.

The Crystal Palace National Sports Centre is a multi-purpose club with brilliant swimming facilities that includes a 50 meter pool, with separate 25 meter and teaching pools nearby. They will remain in camp there until July 24th, at which time they will make the short journey to take up residence at the Olympic village.

The Brazilian Olympic Team, all of whom are using the facility as their training base, will have the advantage of just being a short bus-ride away from the Olympic venues and will thus have the least-stressful journey in the immediate leadup to the Games. The downside is that they will have to spend 10 days in the midst of the Olympic chaos, but coming from the crowded Brazilian urban culture this shouldn’t be too much of an issue for the athletes.

A trio of Brazilians are making later arrivals to the UK – Kaio Almeida and Luiz Raphael don’t arrive until July 22nd, and sprinter Graciele Hermann will meet the team in the Olympic village on July 25th, just two days before the opening ceremonies. For Hermann, not swimming until the very end of the meet, it should still be plenty of time to acclimate.

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11 years ago

I wouldn’t call Crystal Palace swim facilities brilliant. Dated would be more accurate but certainly convenient. Still they’ll be the only team I am aware of that are actually preparing in London. Part of that is likely due to the lack of decent swim facilties in the city. The Brazilians will have the benefit of being used to the chilly raining summer London is providing. Others (Austrailians) will have to adapt from the 85F plus weather of Spain.

aswimfan
Reply to  DanAbel
11 years ago

Dunno why the Aussie coaches picked Manchester as their staging camp. The settings and weather just do not inspire. And I think it’s a mistake for the aussies to arrive in the olympics village so early (22 july). These little things may not mean much but they affect tiniest bit of preparation.
The Americans are much better off in Vichy.

Fenster
11 years ago

I think “king” Cesar might need a few more rounds of furosemide before he hits those sorts of times. Strange to think he is packing on the pounds when everyone is doing the opposite post suits. His only chance is the 50 based on that information…

Rafael
Reply to  Fenster
11 years ago

Fenster

He Gained Muscle, but he lowered his fat, his overall weight will not be changed, it may even be lower than was before.

Reply to  Fenster
11 years ago

Fenster,
if you are talking about Cielo needing Furosemide, you definitely dont know Cielo body type.Cielo is NATURALLY thin(lean).Without training, he lose MASS.A diuretic will give him more problems than benefits.Cielo is a guy who lose weight when he stops training, not gain.Of course, when you stop training, you gain FAT and lose MUSCLE.The training is convert more of FAT in MUSCLE in the same body.Done that, it will increase his speed because the gain in strenght.
I know this year, he is doing a gluten free diet, but dont know HOW that may help to perform well.

homie g
11 years ago

Let’s see if they had a long enough detox period

ECHOS MYRON
11 years ago

Respect for the fastest swimmer of all-time. I find it more satisfying to watch Cielo leave the other competitors in his wake in the 50m free than to watch yet another come-from-behind victory by Phelps in the 100m fly.

aswimfan
Reply to  ECHOS MYRON
11 years ago

I wonder what Magnussen said/did to warrant calling him a douchebag?

Furthermore, Magnussen has never tested positive for any banned substance, unlike Cielo.

beachmouse
Reply to  aswimfan
11 years ago

Magnussen seems to walk the line where it’s easy to read his confidence as arrogance. I tend to feel it’s a little on the arrogance side, but I’d rather see him expressing his real feelings than to play the false modesty games so many other athletes in the sport play.

aswimfan
Reply to  ECHOS MYRON
11 years ago

Not sure why I replied to you, as you were just trolling,
In this article “picks-phelps-a-phavorite-but-not-a-runaway-in-100-fly”, you called Munoz to beat Phelps.
lol.

Freebee
Reply to  ECHOS MYRON
11 years ago

Cielo is one of the best sprinters of all time. Nobody doubts this. No need to dis others.

ZYNG43
11 years ago

I love you Cesar Cielo

Rafael
11 years ago

Doubt also… but if Cielo is able to really do that.. in theory he would be able to put up some pressure on mag on 100.. If he could go 21 flat on 50 free he could open 22 mid on 100 free and still has gas to return..

Reply to  Rafael
11 years ago

Maybe the magazine wrote the times wrong(It could be between 21.19 and 21.30?), but what you talked is true:If he was capable to open in 22.40(considering 21 flat in individual 50free) he could be capable to coming home in 24 mid-low, what would be a blast.Normally, Cielo opening time(in 100free) is between 1.05 to 1.3s slower than his 50 free.

I am curious to see Cielo stick note where he puts his time goals.He is never far than what he wrote there.

11 years ago

Some tips about Brazil Team:
-Fratus improved his breakout.from last year, it was 8.68 meters.Now is 9.27
-Cielo changed his nutrition to compensate the absence of shiny suits.He gained 2 kilograms of muscle to have more strenght comparing with 2009.In beijing, Cielo body fat index was 13%.In London, will be 9-10%.

And a bit bold prediction from coach Alberto Pinto:
-Cielo will swim 50 free between 20.90 and 21.03.(I really doubt about that, but i would love to see!!!)

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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