We got the chance to speak with World Record holder and sprinting legend Cesar Cielo this weekend at the Arena Pro Swim. He was talking about expectations for the Rio Olympics as a Brazilian, but then said something that was very surprising.
Cielo admitted that of all the international medals he has won over the years, his very first olympic medal, a tie for bronze in the 100 free with Jason Lezak at the 2008 Beijing olympics, was the most meaningful to him, even more so than the individual gold he won in the 50 free later that meet. Cesar feels that winning that medal was what separates his career from amateur to professional; the thing that symbolizes his swimming transformation from boy to man.
Cielo comments that he was having a bad meet before that race, but winning that bronze completely shifted his momentum, and gave him the confidence he needed later in the meet to go on and capture gold.
I fully expect Neymar to be 45 mid in the 100M free at the Brazilian trials.
Potentially men relay might be amazing you put 5 teams I would add Italy. Never before 6 teams could medal.
Can’t wait to see Italy win the gold in the men’s 1500!!!!
He is not in a great shape at all – will it be enough to qualify ? his teammates on the 100 are far ahead …. as i have seen this week-end .
Times were terrible in Orlando, I really don´t know what to make of the result.. but Cielo were pretty much terrible too, on december he went 49,55 which left him out of final, don´t know what else he has in mind for April. But if he can at least get a 50 free spot I don´t think it would be impossible they give him a relay chance
If he grabs a spot in the 50 free but comes in dead last in the finals or the consolation finals of the 100, he should NOT be given a spot. The guy had a great career: he was an incredible college swimmer, won world championship gold medals, he holds a world record, he has an Olympic medal, and he beat a negative doping result based on some sort of lame / bs excuse.
The guy has a family that he needs to concentrate on. He should retire before he embarrasses himself at the Brazilian trials.
None of the great athletes can fight father time.
I actually agree with your vision, but if the same thing happens to Phelps/Locthe, they not being top 6 on 100 free, they should also be out of the relay right?
Rafael
ABSOLUTELY 100%. No issues there.
Look at what happened to Anthony Ervin in Kazan. He was great for a 50 but my grandmother could have beat him in the second 50 of the 100 when he collapsed (don’t remember if was a relay). If that isn’t a wake-up call, I don’t know what is. Ervin had a storied career and comeback. But don’t all stories have an ending?
For most of us the decision to retire was made for us. We were lucky. Look, as great as these athletes are, they cannot swim on an internationally competitive level forever.
U are right . neither any of Cielo or Lochte or Ervin should be put on an Olympic 400 free relay if they are not on optimal shape and can throw down 47.6 in prelims . No way it is reasonable nor lucid – it will weight down a solid relay to be relegated out of the battle … or simply not help the team to qualify in prelims ( Usa and Australia in 2015 in Kazan ) . A guy like Grevers can surely deliver as he did last year . Now , time for trials in Brazil and later in Usa to determine who’s in the top 4 or top 6 finishers . Thats gonna be fun to… Read more »
He is hedging his bets / re-living his glory days because he knows he won’t make the team in either the 50 or 100 individual events.
The greats are usually the last ones to know when to retire.
I always forget that Cielo tied with Lezak for the bronze in that race. I tend to think of that race as Bernard vs Sullivan, the two who kept trading the WR, and then Lezak finally winning an individual medal.
No talk about his weak meeting?He told he was feeling without muscle explosion after his events.It is a bit of a worry, because Maria Lenk Trophy will be happening in 39 days…