Brazilian sprinting legend Cesar Cielo will be a member of the country’s national swimming broadcast for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Cielo, the only Brazilian swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal, will commentate for both Globo, the leading broadcast television network in Brazil, and its closed channel, SporTV.
“For swimming, great results are expected in Tokyo,” Cielo told Brazilian outlet Folha De S.Paulo on the country’s chances at the Games, translated from Portuguese. “This was one of the factors that made me accept the invitation to participate in the Olympic broadcasts. We are going to Tokyo with good expectations and podium possibilities.”
Joining Cielo on the swimming broadcasts for Globo will be fellow Olympians Gustavo Borges, Thiago Pereira and Joanna Maranhão.
“I’m already looking forward to it, as it’s the first time I’ll be on the other side. I want to contribute to making broadcasts more enjoyable and fun.”
The 34-year-old put an official retirement announcement on hold after the 2018 Short Course World Championships, and then raced in a few SCM meets in late 2019 before hanging up his suit for good.
Cielo was a two-time Olympian over the course of his career, winning gold at the 2008 Games in Beijing in the men’s 50 freestyle and adding a bronze in the 100 free. In 2012, Cielo won a third Olympic medal, bronze, in the 50 free.
The São Paulo native’s bid for a third Olympic berth in 2016 fell short, finishing third at the country’s Olympic Trials meet in the 50 free.
He’s also the winner of six Long Course World Championship titles, five Short Course World Championship titles, and still holds a pair of LCM world records in the men’s 50 (20.91) and 100 freestyle (46.91)—both set during the super-suit era in 2009.
