Bruno Fratus Defies Convention, Swims 21.7 With 3 Breaths

The prevailing wisdom in modern swimming is that over 50 meters, especially in long course, fewer breaths are better. For most elite male competitors, that means no breaths in a race that lasts typically under 23 seconds.

But during Saturday’s prelims at the 2018 Brazil Trophy national championship meet, he defied that wisdom when he swam a 21.76 while taking an almost-unheard-of 3 breaths.

That was at the time the 3rd-best time in the world, but then in finals he went back to a traditional 0 breath swim and won the event in 21.35 – which now ranks him behind only Ben Proud’s 21.30 from the Commonwealth Games as the 2nd-best time in the world this season.

2017-2018 LCM MEN 50 FREE

2Bruno
FRATUS
BRA21.3504/21
3Andrea
VERGANI
ITA21.3708/08
4Kristian
GKOLOMEEV
GRE21.4408/09
4Vladimir
MOROZOV
RUS21.4408/08
View Top 46»

The 28-year old Fratus took a silver medal in the 50 free at last year’s World Championships, which was his best-ever result at a global championship meet. He also enters this summer as the defending Pan Pac Champion, all of which he’s defending by training alone, under the watch of his wife and with some guidance from Brett Hawke, in Florida.

Watch a video of the 3-breath prelims swim below.

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Dan
6 years ago

I might be remembering wrong, but didn’t Gary Hall Jr. win spring nationals in 1996 or 97 breathing every stroke?

Becky D
Reply to  Dan
6 years ago

How else was he supposed to see the other swimmers in the pool?

Definitely Not Sun Yang
Reply to  Becky D
6 years ago

Okay, Rowdy.

Dan
Reply to  Dan
6 years ago

I meant every stroke cycle. Like every left or every right.

Joe
6 years ago

If he defied convention then wouldn’t his 3 breath 50 be faster than the no breath one, not .4 slower?

Colin
6 years ago

Braden, why are you still giving this guy a platform? Surely someone else has decent video of Bruno’s swim.

DrSwimPhil
Reply to  Colin
6 years ago

Agreed. Just type Alex Pussieldi into google and check out the results. SwimSwam, as a leading swimming news site (and rightfully championing the SafeSport campaign) should not be giving him a platform.

Becky D
Reply to  Colin
6 years ago

Linking to an Instagram post is giving someone a platform? Isn’t Instagram the one providing a “platform” here? I wouldn’t have even noticed whose post it was without you pointing it out, so thanks for spreading the word.

Definitely Not Sun Yang
6 years ago

Can’t wait to see him and Dressel throw down this summer!

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Definitely Not Sun Yang
6 years ago

they are the 2 best in the 50 free right now for Pan Pacs – will be epic swims for sure

A non-e mouse
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
6 years ago

2 of the best 3, dont forget about Proud!

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  A non-e mouse
6 years ago

AT Pan Pacs , we wont see Proud – read again . thanks

Brock the Breastsroker
6 years ago

Was he trying to see if 3 breaths was faster? Or was he just breathing more so the race wasn’t as taxing?

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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