Brazilian superstar Cesar Cielo had a productive weekend at the Minas Tennis Club in Belo Horizonte putting up three times that rank in the world’s top ten.
On the final day of the Troféu Metropolitano Cielo recorded the world’s fastest 50 freestyle time of the year, winning the event in a time of 21.74. He takes over the top spot in the world rankings from Australian James Magnussen who posted a 21.88 at the BHP Billiton Super Series.
Cielo’s previous season’s best had been a 22.15, which he recorded at the Orlando Grand Prix in February.
Even though he saved his best for the last day of the competition, Cielo’s performances on Friday were quite impressive as well. He won the 50 butterfly in a time of 23.44 putting him second in the world rankings, the only person to have swum faster is Yauhen Tsurkin of Belarus who posted a 23.11 in January.
He also won the 100 freestyle, an event that he did not compete in throughout the 2013 season, in a time of 49.11. He just edged out his fellow countryman Matheus Santana out of the world rankings as Santana had been holding down the tenth place position with a time of 49.13.
it will be and probably the first meet that Brazil will try to put the relay for the next cycle. Cielo chiereginni santana nicolas fratus
Biggest meet of the year for the Brazilian swimmers? Pan Pacs?
I would expect so. The major competitions are Europeans, Asian Games, Pan Pacs and Commonwealths, and I don’t see Brazil in any of the other ones.
The funny thing about the Pan Pacs is that it’s becoming maybe the third biggest meet in the world. Of the top swimming countries, the US, Australia and Japan all send very large contingents, and “mid-majors” like South Africa and Brazil also send people. However conversely many of those countries prioritize other meets like Commonwealths and Asian Games so the US ends up winning a slaughterfest.
The last time the US won fewer than 25 golds (out of 32 events) was 2002. However don’t feel too bad for them, because they won… Read more »
Don’t get your hopes too high. Just like Australia’s other top swimmers, of course Magnussen will have Commonwealth Games as the top priority. Especially since he has never represented Australia in individual events. I’m pretty much sure he wants that 50-100 free commonwealth games golds. Being commonwealth games gold medalists has more commercial value than pan pacs gold.
Very few australians knew Emily Seebohm won 6 medals at 2010 Pan Pacs, but the 5 medals that Alicia Coutts won in 2010 Commonwealth Games was surely widely reported.
Cielo still dont know if he is going to PanPacs.He will decide next month.Right now, his big goal is World Short Course Champs.He told this year is a year to try new things.